Ben Gvir promotes cop indicted for injuring protesters, gives him command of station
‘I’ve got your back,’ national security minister tells Meir Suissa, charged with negligence for throwing stun grenade at protest in 2023; Suissa to command south Tel Aviv station
Israel Police officer Meir Suissa, who was indicted in July for throwing a stun grenade at anti-government protesters in March 2023, was formally promoted Thursday to the rank of Chief Superintendent, and given command of the south Tel Aviv police station.
Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who oversees the police, bestowed the rank on Suissa at a public ceremony, heaping praise on the officer and condemning what he said was political pressure “to target a police officer who seems to have acted in accordance with the instructions he was given.”
At the ceremony, Ben Gvir also promoted dozens of other officers, including many who have just graduated from special training courses.
The minister, who has been accused of encouraging police brutality and declining to hold officers accountable for excessive force, told Suissa during his remarks, “I’ve got your back.”
The officer’s lawyers, Moshe Alon and Diana Shomsky, said that Ben Gvir’s decision to promote Suissa was “correct and appropriate,” adding that their client was entitled to the rank.
“With respect to the indictment, the facts will become clear in court,” the lawyers added, according to the Kan public broadcaster on Thursday.
למרות כתב האישום נגדו על זריקת רימוני הלם לעבר המון: בן גביר מעלה לדרגת סנ"צ את מאיר סוויסה עם מינוי למפקד תחנה. "ניסו לעשות לו סיכול ממוקד, הוא עשה את תפקידו", אמר העבריין.
אין לו חוק ואין לו גבולות. pic.twitter.com/qingciLSnV— Josh Breiner (@JoshBreiner) August 22, 2024
In March 2023, Suissa was filmed throwing a stun grenade at protesters during an anti-government demonstration over the proposed judicial overhaul.
The Department of Internal Police Investigations (DIPI) said in its indictment last month— which accused four other officers as well as Suissa— that the police officers’ actions injured protesters and were therefore negligent.
“The five indicted [officers] threw stun grenades towards the crowds, who at that time were not acting violently toward the police officers,” DIPI said.
“The high density of the demonstrators, including children and the elderly, and their frequent movement from place to place, prevented the possibility of properly assessing where the grenade would land, all of which is contrary to police procedure,” it continued.
The indictment mentioned two women who were injured by the first grenade thrown by Suissa. One of the women sustained multiple injuries to the face that left her with scars and PTSD, and the other sought medical attention for persisting tinnitus.
At the time, Ben Gvir praised Suissa for his handling of the demonstration.
The Lev Tel Aviv Police Station in the center of the city subsequently chose Suissa as the station’s outstanding officer, and, despite the controversy, he was awarded a certificate at a police event ahead of Independence Day last year.
