Ben Gvir said seeking to retain influence over law enforcement, despite resigning

Senior officer says police will still be dominated by ‘spirit’ of far-right national security minister, who lays out agenda in writing, urges security heads to continue his policies

National Security Itamar Ben Gvir arrives for a cabinet meeting in Jerusalem. January 17, 2025. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
National Security Itamar Ben Gvir arrives for a cabinet meeting in Jerusalem. January 17, 2025. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

Outgoing National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir officially took leave of his post Tuesday morning, as he and the rest of his party quit the government over the Gaza ceasefire deal.

But despite his formal resignation, sources in the police and prison services have said that Ben Gvir plans to leave his mark on law enforcement’s decision-making, and vowed to senior officers that he wouldn’t be out of office long.

According to a police source who spoke to the Haaretz newspaper, Ben Gvir told senior officers: “I will return… I intend to return to the ministry and the police to finish what I started.”

The departing minister also left written instructions for security agency heads detailing his policies in regards to civilian armament, the Temple Mount and security prisoners, urging their continued implementation.

At the same time, Israel Police Commissioner Daniel Levy postponed a round of appointments for commanders of large police stations for another 42 days “until the situation becomes clear.”

Haaretz reported that the decision was made in coordination with the outgoing minister, who nominated Levy as chief of police last summer.

During his tenure, Ben Gvir reshuffled the top brass of the police and prison service, leading many sources to conclude that the agencies’ leadership will remain loyal to him — regardless of his replacement.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir (left) and Israel Police Commissioner Daniel Levy during a National Security Committee meeting at the Knesset on November 27, 2024. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Another senior officer told Haaretz that “the spirit of Ben Gvir will continue to dominate [the police force],” noting that people owe him their appointments and ranks, and “it’s not something you forget quickly.”

Before officially taking leave of his post, Ben Gvir distributed to the heads of the Israel Police, Prison Service and Fire and Rescue Authority a policy booklet outlining his agenda (Hebrew link).

On the first page of the document, the departing minister pressed security forces to “preserve the character of the state while expanding enforcement and deterrence,” and called for a further increase in the number of armed civilians.

The ultranationalist politician dedicated a special section in the document to Jerusalem, where he urged law enforcement to “strengthen governance on the Temple Mount” with the intention of “providing basic rights and preventing discrimination and racism” at the holy site.

He also called on the prison authority to continue to “change the way in which security prisoners are held” as “part of the campaign to prevent terror.”

During his final hours in government, Ben Gvir also sent a last-minute letter to Interior Minister Moshe Arbel, urging him to use his power under a controversial new law to deport three residents of East Jerusalem whose family members carried out terror attacks.

Ben Gvir’s letter came in wake of a request by the Jerusalem Police last month that Arbel hold a deportation hearing for the three, who were arrested after expressing sympathy with terror groups.

Under the law spearheaded by Ben Gvir’s far-right Otzma Yehudit party, the interior minister is vested with the power to expel a first-degree relative of someone who carried out a terror attack.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, left, and Interior Minister Moshe Arbel, right, in a composite photo. (Flash90)

The law applies to those suspected of having advance knowledge of the attack who either failed to report the matter to the police or “expressed support or identification with an act of terrorism or published words of praise, sympathy or encouragement for an act of terrorism or a terrorist organization.”

The Justice Ministry, Attorney General’s Office and Israeli legal organizations have raised concerns about the legislation and its constitutional validity, since it expressly allows for the deportation of Israeli citizens.

If Arbel decides to cooperate with Ben Gvir, it would mark the first time that the law is implemented.

Sam Sokol contributed to this report. 

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