Former police spokesman may petition court over blocked promotion under Ben Gvir

Deputy Superintendent Itzik Elpsy is considering petitioning the court after National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir blocked his expected promotion. Elpsy’s lawyers, Amir Bartal and Dovev Gilad Cohen, sent a pre-litigation letter on Tuesday to Ben Gvir and Police Commissioner Danny Levy demanding that his appointment as spokesman for the Police Investigations and Intelligence Division be completed immediately, as approved by the national command staff in 2025.

Elpsy previously served as the division’s spokesman at the rank of chief inspector, then attended and successfully completed the police command and staff course about six months ago. He received the new rank, but his appointment has been held up as part of Ben Gvir’s dispute with the head of the Investigations and Intelligence Division, Commander Boaz Bilt. As a result, the unit has gone six months without a permanent spokesman.

The lawyers argued that the absence of a permanent spokesman for a sensitive division during an election period, and in the run-up to elections, could seriously harm police communications, transparency, and the ability to provide the public with regular and professional information. They also wrote that Ben Gvir had been present when course participants were warned against expressing political views and was told he could hear everything they said.

The letter further claims the minister’s refusal may stem from remarks Elpsy allegedly made in professional discussions during the course, or from the view that he is not aligned with Ben Gvir’s positions on certain issues. Over the past six months, three petitions have been filed against Ben Gvir over allegedly unjustified police promotions delays. In one case, the court ordered the promotion of Superintendent Ruti Saban; in another, Ben Gvir reversed himself and approved Chief Superintendent Ruti Hauslich’s promotion. About a month ago, Chief Inspector Reut Rosenberg also petitioned the court over a stalled promotion, saying she was the only officer among those approved by the national promotion board whose appointment had not been signed.