Ben-Gvir's Pre-Election Police Meeting Sparks Controversy
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir has scheduled a controversial meeting with senior police officials to discuss election preparedness just days before the vote. Critics within the law enforcement system are concerned about the timing and potential political motivations behind the meeting, especially as Ben-Gvir is a candidate himself. The minister's office defended the meeting as a routine duty, while the Police Commissioner had previously stressed the force's apolitical nature.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's pre-election police meeting has caused controversy among senior law enforcement officials.
- Critics fear the meeting, scheduled days before elections, may be used for political purposes.
- Police Commissioner Dany Levy previously emphasized the police force's apolitical stance.
- Ben-Gvir's office stated the meeting is a routine duty and necessary for election preparedness.
- The discussion will focus on police deployment and security for election day.
Days before elections, Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir has scheduled an unusual meeting with senior police command staff to discuss the organization's election preparedness. The meeting, set for Thursday, has drawn sharp criticism from senior figures within the law enforcement system, who view it as potentially politically motivated. Sources told Haaretz that Ben-Gvir has largely avoided professional discussions in recent weeks, focusing instead on his party's election campaign. Critics question the professionalism of this late meeting and warn against its use for political purposes.
The meeting in the minister's office will include heads of operations and investigations, as well as the director of the police's election division. This comes just a week after Police Commissioner Dany Levy held a broad preparedness meeting with representatives from the Central Elections Committee, the IDF, and the Shin Bet. At that time, Levy emphasized the police's apolitical stance and threatened disciplinary action against officers expressing political views. His remarks were made amidst the heightened sensitivity of the election period, particularly given that the National Security Minister himself is a candidate.
Ben-Gvir's office defended the meeting, stating it is a routine duty for the minister and that such discussions always occur. They asserted that failure to prepare would lead to the minister being blamed. The planned discussion is expected to cover police deployment, polling station security, and the prevention of unusual incidents on election day. However, the criticism centers on the timing and circumstances, with the minister perceived as having distanced himself from professional matters recently.
