Israeli Police Chief Backs Bnei Brak Commander After Heavy-Force Protest Evacuation

Hours after National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said he was considering permanently removing police officers and commanders involved in violence against ultra-Orthodox protesters, and hinted that the Bnei Brak station commander could be dismissed, the police issued a statement fully backing the officers who led the operation.

According to the police, Police Commissioner Dani Levy spoke with the regional commander and the station commander, heard their version of events, and accepted their argument that the severity of the incident, the early-morning closure of Highway 4, and the disruption to tens of thousands of drivers required a significant police response to restore public order. The commissioner also ordered a professional lessons-learned review.

At the same time, the police said Levy expressed appreciation and support for the commanders and officers who acted at the scene and made real-time decisions during what was described as a “complex operational reality.”

The backing follows public outrage over footage from the protest showing injured and bruised ultra-Orthodox demonstrators during the evacuation. The harshest criticism focused on the Bnei Brak- Ramat Gan station commander, who was filmed in one video tearing the pants of a protester during the operation.

Ben Gvir, responding to the videos and widespread reactions, said earlier that there would be no tolerance for breaches of procedure or unjustified use of force. In a letter to the police commissioner, he wrote that if officers or commanders are found to have deviated from procedure, he would consider using his authority to remove them from the Israel Police. While the minister is signaling possible personal sanctions, the commissioner is sending the opposite message, open support for the officers on the ground.