Police leadership feud deepens over enforcement at Haredi protests

Tensions at the top of Israel’s police escalated over enforcement at Haredi protests, amid a public clash between National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Danny Levy. Senior police officers and district commanders told Channel 14 that the dispute is affecting officers in the field, who, they said, do not know what policy to apply. One officer said Levy is not giving clear guidance in General Staff meetings and that frontline police are the ones facing the harsh criticism, adding, “It is time for the commissioner to be clear and lead a uniform, clear policy.”

At the same time, further friction emerged between Levy and police spokespeople. According to the report, Levy rebuked members of the communications unit on Sunday and said he was unhappy with how the force had handled the media during the crisis with the ultra-Orthodox public. In that conversation he also addressed another security matter, saying the head of the Shin Bet had “stolen” from him a security assessment that was leaked to the press. Levy said, “I was the one who warned about the next 7.10 in Eilat.” He also claimed, “The IDF dumped on us the responsibility for arresting draft dodgers and disappeared from the issue.”

Levy further said that he once could walk in Bnei Brak and be photographed, but now he cannot enter the city. Separately, senior officials in Tel Aviv District told i24NEWS that Bnei Brak police station commander Chief Superintendent Yuval Shavit will not be dismissed, saying such a move is impossible without the commissioner’s recommendation.

The developments followed Ben Gvir’s announcement in the morning that he would convene an urgent meeting this week with officers documented in the Bnei Brak protest incidents, including the station commander, as part of a review of whether to use his authority to bar them permanently from the police. Later in the day, Levy publicly backed Shavit and the officers involved, saying, “Significant action was required to restore public order. I express appreciation and back the commanders and police officers operating in the field, while making decisions in real time.” Ben Gvir then replied that he respects Levy, but said that after the lessons are drawn, “significant steps” are needed to prevent a repeat.