Ben-Gvir Halts Police Budget Amid Appointment Dispute

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has instructed the Treasury not to transfer hundreds of millions of shekels to the Israel Police, citing concerns over the professional and responsible use of public funds. The move comes amid escalating tensions between Ben-Gvir and Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai over budget allocations and delayed appointments.

In a letter to Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Ben-Gvir stated, "I have instructed that not a single shekel will be transferred to the Israel Police until I verify that public funds designated for the Israel Police are indeed reaching their intended purpose, are being used professionally, responsibly, and appropriately, and that there is oversight over their allocation and use." He criticized perceived interference by Treasury officials, suggesting they were acting as if "the days when civil servants ran the country are returning."

The dispute is also fueled by reports of ongoing negotiations between the police and the Treasury regarding the transfer of 333 million shekels, which has been held up. Commissioner Shabtai had previously warned the Prime Minister and Ben-Gvir about the operational consequences of delaying these funds.

Ben-Gvir, however, asserted that the core of his disagreement with Shabtai is not about the budget, but about appointments during an election period. He accused Shabtai of being influenced by the Attorney General, who allegedly pushed for the immediate appointment of Tamar Liberty, Shabtai's former aide, to a senior legal position within the police. Ben-Gvir vowed to prevent what he called the "criminal Attorney General" from interfering in police appointments, especially questionable ones close to an election.

Earlier this week, Shabtai appointed Superintendent Tamar Liberty as Deputy Legal Advisor to the Police, despite Ben-Gvir's opposition. This appointment was part of the first round of police personnel changes. Ben-Gvir's letter to Smotrich highlighted that the elections are scheduled for October 27 and the Knesset is already in recess.