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Netanyahu Calls Police Chief, Ben-Gvir for Election Integrity Talks Amid Legal Challenge

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu summoned Police Commissioner Dani Levy and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to an in-person meeting on Sunday, October 25, 2026, to discuss security arrangements ahead of the upcoming Knesset elections. The meeting, scheduled just two days before the elections, was initially reported as a phone call, which Netanyahu's lawyer, Ilan Bombach, later clarified was an error caused by urgency.

3 newsrooms · 2 languages · since 09:16

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Netanyahu Calls Police Chief, Ben-Gvir for Election Integrity Talks Amid Legal Challenge — Illustration by baba

What happened

01Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu summoned Police Commissioner Dani Levy and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to an in-person meeting on Sunday, October 25, 2026.
02The meeting was scheduled to address security arrangements and police readiness just two days before the Knesset elections.
03Justice Minister Gadi Eisenkot and opposition leader Yair Lapid demanded the cancellation of the meeting, questioning its legality.
04Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara supported the opposition to the meeting and disputed claims by Netanyahu's office that such briefings are routine.
05Central Elections Committee Chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg rejected a petition to block the meeting but restricted its scope strictly to security and public order.
06Justice Sohlberg clarified that the political leadership has no authority to direct the police regarding election management or integrity.
07The meeting was attended by police intelligence and operations heads, following a previous refusal by Commissioner Levy to meet with Minister Ben-Gvir.

The meeting faced immediate legal challenges and political opposition. Justice Minister Gadi Eisenkot, representing the National Unity Party, asked Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara to cancel the meeting, while opposition leader Yair Lapid and legal experts questioned its legality. Critics and the organization Choharim beYisrael, which petitioned against the meeting, expressed concern that it could interfere with the electoral process, pressure officials, or undermine election results.

Central Elections Committee Chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg rejected the petition to block the meeting, allowing it to proceed with strict limitations. Sohlberg ruled that the discussions must be confined to public order and security readiness, rather than election integrity or preparations, which fall under the sole authority of the Central Elections Committee. While Netanyahu's office claimed such pre-election briefings are standard practice, Baharav-Miara disputed this assertion.

Summarized by baba from the reports of 3 newsrooms. Updated 13:22

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