Senior Officer Implicated in Ben-Gvir Associates Case Resigns from Police

Senior police commander Avishai Moalem, who headed the Judea and Samaria District Special Investigations Unit (YAMAS) and was considered the main suspect in the "associates of Ben-Gvir" affair, is resigning from the Israel Police. Moalem is expected to be appointed as the CEO of the Tiberias Municipality, where he resides.

Moalem was suspected, among other things, of refraining from arresting far-right activists in Judea and Samaria, allegedly to gain the favor of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and secure a promotion. He was arrested in 2024 and investigated by the Police Internal Investigations Department. At the time, he was placed on forced leave and later investigated on suspicion of attempting to request police materials from a commander, contrary to his restriction conditions. Moalem maintained that the investigation was politically motivated and constituted a systematic persecution against him.

In June 2025, Police Commissioner Danny Levi decided to reinstate Moalem to the police force, assigning him a role in the Logistics Support Division. Following the announcement of Moalem's return, Minister Ben-Gvir stated, "I welcome the decision. This is an esteemed officer, with extensive experience, who served for many years for the security of Israel's citizens. Superintendent Moalem suffered persecution from the Shin Bet. I believe in his innocence and am sure he will be promoted further, as befits a person who acted with integrity and dedication. Those elements in the Shin Bet who called on him to break the law and harm settlers are the ones who should be removed from their positions, not the officer who refused."

Police sources indicated prior to his return that he would not command YAMAS again but would be placed in a different role to avoid direct contact with nationalist offenses. Moalem is now resigning from the police to serve as CEO of the Tiberias Municipality.