Ben-Gvir Clashes With Police Chief Over Appointments, Not Budget

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir launched a sharp attack on Police Commissioner Dani Levy on Wednesday evening, following a letter from Levy to Ben-Gvir and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In his letter, Levy criticized the delay in transferring hundreds of millions of shekels to the police budget, warning of operational consequences, particularly during the election period.

Ben-Gvir responded by stating that the "core of the dispute is not related to the budget at all," asserting that he had provided the largest budgets to the police and increased officers' salaries. He claimed the real conflict centers on "making appointments during the election period," accusing the Police Commissioner of yielding to the dictates of the government's legal advisor, Gali Baharav-Miara.

Ben-Gvir further alleged that the legal advisor is pushing for the promotion of her associate, Tamar Liberty, who previously served as the office director for former Police Commissioner Roni Alsheikh. "I will not allow this 'criminal' to sink her claws into the police force and dictate appointments for associates on the eve of elections in a manner that contradicts sound administrative rules," Ben-Gvir declared.

This escalation follows Levy's appointment of Tamar Liberty as Deputy Legal Advisor for the Police earlier this week, despite Ben-Gvir's objections. Ben-Gvir had previously sent a letter to Levy emphasizing that the upcoming Knesset elections on October 27 and the Knesset's recess impose legal restrictions preventing public service appointments. He stressed that as the responsible minister, he would not permit any senior officer appointments until after the elections.