Ben Gvir Halts Police Appointments, Withholds $80 Million in Funding

A severe dispute between National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Police Commissioner Danny Levi over senior police appointments has escalated, leading to the cancellation of appointment discussions and the withholding of approximately 300 million shekels (about $80 million) in police funding. Ben-Gvir informed Levi in a letter that he was canceling the planned appointment discussions, citing the proximity to elections and the need for restraint, suggesting that decisions on significant appointments should be left to a future minister.

To justify his stance, Ben-Gvir referenced an incident from before he took office, where he reportedly asked the Attorney General to halt appointments promoted by the previous minister and commissioner. He views this as a precedent for his current demand to stop the ongoing appointments.

However, beneath the official explanation lies a deeper disagreement regarding the identities of individuals slated for senior positions, including the head of the prosecution department and the deputy legal advisor for the police. Ben-Gvir's office claims the commissioner recommended Tamar Liberty for deputy legal advisor, a nomination the minister opposes.

In response to the developments, a senior police official criticized the minister's decision, stating that he is expected to support the police's appointment processes. The tension intensified further, prompting Ben-Gvir to delay the significant budget allocation. With elections approaching and the police appointments becoming a central point of contention, the relationship between Ben-Gvir and Levi appears to be at a boiling point, with the canceled discussions and budget freeze highlighting a sharp conflict over managerial and professional control within the police force.