Israeli Police Chief Seeks to Bypass Minister Ben Gvir on Senior Appointments
Israel's Police Commissioner has reportedly sought Attorney General approval to bypass Minister Itamar Ben Gvir on senior appointments. The deepening rift follows public clashes over policing policies, protests, and recent political tensions.
The strained relationship between Israel's Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, and Police Commissioner, Inspector General Danny Levi, has reached a new peak. According to reports, the police chief recently approached Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara to seek approval to effectively bypass the minister's authority and appoint senior police officers without requiring Ben Gvir's signature or consent.
The friction between the two has steadily escalated over the past year. Appointed in August 2024 with Ben Gvir's strong backing, Levi was initially praised by the minister as a professional commander who would help implement necessary reforms. However, tensions surfaced publicly in April 2025 during a police event, when Levi stated that the police would fight for democracy "to the last drop of blood," prompting Ben Gvir to interrupt and claim he was being provoked.
Disputes intensified over operational policies, highway protest management, and high-level appointments. In September 2025, Levi canceled a senior officer rank-awarding ceremony after the minister withheld approval for several appointments. The relationship deteriorated further following recent elections, amid protests by ultra-Orthodox demonstrators against military conscription.
In a recent radio interview, Ben Gvir launched a fierce attack against Commissioner Levi, alleging that the police chief has "changed his skin by 180 degrees" and is being blackmailed by Attorney General Baharav-Miara. Ben Gvir pointed to alleged personal investigations and building code issues as leverage used against the commissioner. The minister also targeted the head of the Investigations and Intelligence Division, Deputy Commissioner Boaz Blat, accusing him of acting on behalf of the Attorney General and labeling him a liar.
