Ben Gvir cuts off police chief as he vows to enforce court ruling on Bar’s dismissal
In rare public spat, national security minister laughs as Levy pledges to ‘protect democracy’, interrupts police chief mid-sentence by proclaiming: ‘They’re provoking you’
Israel Police chief Daniel Levy had a brief public run-in with National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir on Wednesday, when the minister interrupted the top officer in front of the cameras as he vowed to uphold the High Court’s future ruling on the dismissal of Shin Bet head Ronen Bar.
While showcasing weapons seized by police during a press briefing, Levy was asked by a reporter whether he would “act according to the High Court ruling… or are you afraid of the minister?” referring to Ben Gvir, who was standing right next to him.
“How can one think that the police commissioner… would not enforce the law and not listen to the court?” Levy replied indignantly, stressing that his police force will “protect democracy… struggle for the sake of democracy and fight for democracy until our last drop of blood.”
As Levy attempted to respond to the reporter’s follow-up question on what he would do if Ben Gvir were to disagree, the minister cut him off mid-sentence.
“They’re provoking you,” he said, raising his voice and positioning himself between the crowd of reporters and the police chief, who retorted: “Let me finish,” and continued: “Anyone who thinks differently, is wrong.”
Levy, who was sworn in as police commissioner last year on Ben Gvir’s watch, has not been inclined to argue with the national security minister, especially in public.
המפכ"ל אומר מול בן גביר לשאלה האם יפעל לפי פסיקת בג"ץ: "אני לא מפחד מאף אחד. איך אפשר לחשוב ריבונו של עולם שהמפכ"ל והמשטרה לא ישמרו על החוק ולא יישמעו לפסיקת בית המשפט? אנחנו שומרי הסף של הדמוקרטיה ונשמור על הדמוקרטיה עד טיפת הדם האחרונה"
בן גביר צוחק ומנסה לחתוך אותו: "הוא עושה… pic.twitter.com/Vv3RL1S9Xa— Josh Breiner (@JoshBreiner) April 9, 2025
For his part, the far-right minister has clamored to have Bar fired amid friction between him and the Shin Bet chief.
Last month, Ben Gvir said Bar should be jailed following reports that the Shin Bet had been investigating the possible infiltration of far-right elements into the police under Ben Gvir’s leadership.
“It’s no longer a question of impeachment, Ronen Bar should sit in prison” on suspicion of looking to carry out “a coup d’état,” he insisted in March.
Asked by a reporter on Wednesday what the government would do if the High Court of Justice, which issued a temporary injunction on Tuesday preventing Bar’s dismissal, ruled against his firing, Ben Gvir replied that the court cannot leave Bar in charge of the Shin Bet and accused him of working to bring down Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Levy’s promise received cautious praise from the opposition. The Democrats party chairman Yair Golan welcomed his remarks, but warned that “with all due respect to words, the real test will be in actions.”
“Compliance with High Court rulings is a basic condition, but the rule of law does not end there,” Golan wrote in a post on X. “The rule of law also requires preventing obstruction of investigations, protecting investigators, and maintaining their independence — especially in cases involving the prime minister, primarily the Qatargate affair.”
Labor MK Naama Lazimi voiced similar skepticism towards the top cop, speculating that he may renege on his pledge later on.
“It will be interesting [to see] whether the commissioner will be forced to issue a clarification on the ‘severe’ answer [in which he provided] a commitment to obey the court and the law,” she tweeted.
Both Lazimi and Golan have recently been the targets of police violence. During a protest outside the Knesset last week, security forces were filmed manhandling Lazimi, grabbing and shoving her despite people screaming that she was a lawmaker.
And last month Golan was knocked to the ground by police during a mass demonstration in Jerusalem, after which he declared that “after 38 years in the IDF, a few shoves won’t stop me.”
Following Ben Gvir’s filmed interjection, Otzma Yehudit MK Limor Son Har-Melech backed efforts to oust Bar, claiming that the court was “breaking the law” by intervening in his firing.
The Times of Israel Community.