Minister Ben Gvir Blocks Police Promotions Amid Legal Warnings of Improper Motives

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir is currently delaying the promotions of two senior police officers, Superintendent Reut Rozenberg and Deputy Superintendent Itzik Alfasi, prompting warnings from the Deputy Attorney General about potential improper considerations behind these decisions. The Deputy Attorney General's deputies have formally requested that Ben Gvir provide explanations for the delays, expressing concern that this is not an isolated incident but part of a recurring pattern of misusing appointment powers within sensitive police units. They highlighted that such actions have previously led to judicial interventions and remarks cautioning against non-merit-based motives.

Both officers were recommended for promotion by the police commissioner and senior command staff, yet Ben Gvir has withheld approval. A source familiar with the matter told N12 that Rozenberg's only 'offense' was receiving a promotion recommendation from the police's former legal advisor, with whom Ben Gvir reportedly has a contentious history. This is not the first time Ben Gvir has obstructed police promotions against professional advice; a recent case involved the refusal to promote Superintendent Rinat Saban to Deputy Superintendent despite the police commissioner's support. The courts later ruled Ben Gvir's decision as "extremely unreasonable," ordering the promotion to proceed by judicial mandate.

The ongoing disputes over police appointments under Ben Gvir's tenure raise concerns about the independence of law enforcement and the potential chilling effect on police leadership. The Deputy Attorney General's office is closely monitoring the situation and demanding transparency regarding the minister's rationale for these personnel decisions.