AG blocks Ben Gvir’s promotion of cop indicted for injuring protesters, demands clarification

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara blocks the promotion of Israel Police Officer Meir Suissa to the rank of chief superintendent due to his indictment last month for throwing a stun grenade at anti-government protesters in March 2023.

The promotion was ordered last week by National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who heaped praise on Suissa and condemned what he said was political pressure “to target a police officer who seems to have acted in accordance with the instructions he was given.”

Hebrew media reports that a letter was sent by the office of the attorney general to Ben Gvir informing him that without necessary clarification or a letter of recommendation from the police chief, “it is not legally possible to promote Suissa in rank, or appointment.”

Responding to the attorney general’s decision to block the appointment, Ben Gvir insists that it will go ahead nevertheless, and says that if she “wants to cancel the minister’s appointment, she is welcome to go to the Supreme Court.”

“All the steps required by law and in accordance with the authority of the National Security minister to appoint him were taken,” the ultranationalist minister adds. “The attorney general is a recommending body, not a decision body, therefore Suissa is the chief superintendent and the commander of the Tel Aviv-South station.”