Israel’s police commissioner, Dani Levi, has backed Bnei Brak-Ramat Gan station commander Supt. Yuvav Shavit after National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said he was considering dismissing him over the handling of last week’s ultra-Orthodox protest on Route 4. The police said Levi spoke with Shavit, heard the sequence of events, and agreed that under the circumstances, when a major traffic artery was blocked early in the morning and public order was disrupted, substantial police action was necessary to restore order.
The force said Levi expressed support for commanders and officers working in the field for public safety and public order. Ben Gvir replied that he respects the commissioner, but said that after the lesson-learning process, “significant steps” are needed to ensure such incidents do not recur.
Earlier, Ben Gvir sent Levi a letter saying the published videos caused “serious public uproar and widespread anger.” He alleged that officers were seen throwing stun grenades contrary to procedure, dragging protesters on the road, humiliating them, and in one clip, kicking a demonstrator in the head. He said he fully backs police officers who act for public safety, but will not tolerate serious deviations, adding, “Just as it is my right and duty to support brave officers, so it is my right and duty to act when officers step out of line and seriously harm civilians.”
Ben Gvir noted that the police have said the incidents will be reviewed in depth and that the commissioner said officers who violated procedures would be dealt with harshly. He also pointed to the Tel Aviv district commander’s decision to suspend the officer seen kicking the protester from operational activity.
The minister said the review would also examine the conduct of the commanders in charge at the scene, including Shavit, who appeared in one of the protest videos. He said he is considering using his legal authority to permanently remove officers who are found to have acted far beyond acceptable police standards, but only after all evidence is examined and the participants are heard. Ben Gvir said he will convene an urgent meeting this week with all relevant parties to get a full picture of what happened and what decisions were made on the ground.
