Israeli Police Chief Rejects Minister Ben Gvir's Attempts to Influence Senior Appointments

Israel Police Commissioner Major General Danni Levi firmly stated on Monday that no one will be allowed to impose appointments within the police force. Speaking to senior command staff, Levi emphasized that only the police commissioner and the deputy commissioner have the authority to appoint officers, signaling a clear rebuke to National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. He added that while there are capable officers, some are not yet ready for senior roles.

This declaration follows reports that negotiations between Ben Gvir and Levi over senior police appointments have collapsed. According to an i24NEWS report, initial agreements to appoint Major General Yechiel Bohadana as deputy commissioner and to promote Deputy Commissioner Merav Wagner to head the Planning Division were later withdrawn by Levi, causing the talks to break down.

As a result of the impasse, a planned round of senior police appointments has been canceled, leaving several key positions vacant at least until after the upcoming elections and the Knesset's dissolution. The deputy commissioner and head of the Planning Division are expected to retire soon, while the heads of Human Resources and the Spokesperson Division are currently on leave amid investigations. A police source criticized the commissioner for hesitating to make decisions, and senior officials expressed concern about the prolonged vacancies in critical police leadership roles.