Retired Police Officer Claims Case Was Fabricated to Target Ben-Gvir
Retired Chief Superintendent Avishai Moalem claimed on television that investigators fabricated a criminal case against him to target National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, alleging covert surveillance and political pressure.
Retired Chief Superintendent Avishai Moalem appeared on the program "The Patriots" and revealed new details regarding the case against him, claiming that the investigation was fabricated to target National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. Moalem responded to leaked recordings of Commander Boaz Blat, in which it was alleged that the State Attorney's Office prepares cases against senior figures in advance.
According to Moalem, the campaign against him began after he refused to bow to pressure from the Shin Bet's Jewish Division. Moalem stated that in August 2023, then-Jerusalem District Prosecutor Dani Vitman told him that the Shin Bet's Jewish Division was allegedly concealing evidence related to cases involving right-wing activists. Moalem added that Vitman asked him whether Minister Ben-Gvir had requested changes to specific cases, to which Moalem replied that he had never spoken to the minister.
Moalem further detailed that in October 2023, former Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar allegedly attempted to block his promotion, telling former Police Inspector General Kobi Shabtai that Moalem "does not listen to us." Despite this, Moalem's promotion moved forward, leading to a four-month covert operation against him beginning in August 2024, which included wiretaps and surveillance.
Three weeks prior to his arrest in December, Moalem attended a meeting with State Attorney Amit Isman, military prosecutors, and the head of the Shin Bet's Jewish Division. During the meeting, Moalem was questioned regarding his refusal to conduct an arms search in the West Bank town of Yitzhar based on what he considered insufficient intelligence. Moalem recounted asking Isman if he would authorize a similar raid in an Arab locality like Umm al-Fahm over just six bullets, to which Isman reportedly admitted he would not, praising Moalem's professionalism at the time.
Despite Isman's remarks, Moalem was arrested three weeks later. He claimed investigators pressured him to become a state's witness against Minister Ben-Gvir, noting that even investigators and internal police investigators admitted privately that the case was fabricated. Moalem stated that his defense attorney is prepared to take a polygraph test to prove his innocence.
