Former Haaretz columnist seeks to join Tel Aviv police volunteer unit

Former Haaretz journalist Chaim Levinson said on Thursday that he has applied to volunteer in the Tel Aviv District standby unit of the Israel Police. In a post, Levinson said that since the October 7 attack he has often thought about how he could contribute more to Israeli society, and that after considerable reflection he decided police volunteering was the right fit for him.

Levinson wrote that his father was a police officer and that he sees the move as continuing that family path. "I submitted today an application to volunteer in the Tel Aviv District standby unit. This is an exciting moment for me. I promise to keep you updated on the progress," he said.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir responded by welcoming Levinson and urging the public to join police volunteer frameworks. "Welcome, Levinson," Ben Gvir wrote. He added that 14,000 volunteers in more than 1,000 standby units he established are a significant force multiplier for Israel's security and called it one of the most important security revolutions in the country.

Ben Gvir also said the Tel Aviv standby unit has an excellent commander, whom he knows personally.