Ben Gvir and Police Commissioner Clash Over Officer Salary Increases
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir announced a police budget increase, but Police Commissioner Dani Levy clarified that officer raises remain unapproved.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir announced a budget increase for police motorcyclists, but Police Commissioner Dani Levy later stated that the salary raise has not yet been approved.
Budget Announcement and Subsequent Clarification
During the afternoon, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir published a video announcing a budgetary addition of 23 million shekels for the police force, detailing the intended allocations. However, by evening, Police Commissioner Dani Levy issued a clarification to police officers, stating that the salary increase for motorcyclists is not currently in effect and that the force is still awaiting approval from the Ministry of National Security to retroactively settle wages for crime scene investigators.
Contrary to recent publications, the 2,000-shekel supplement is intended exclusively for traffic accident investigators and not for all investigators, noted the Police Commissioner.
Ongoing Tensions and Budgetary Growth
While the Ministry of National Security emphasized that the 2026 police budget exceeds 20 billion shekels—marking the largest allocation in history—the ongoing friction between political leadership and the police command continues to stall administrative processes. Officials close to the minister stressed that the budget includes vital provisions for border police units operating in high-risk environments, ensuring that funds reach the field.
