Ben Gvir says top West Bank cop detained because he would not crack down on settler vandals

National Security Minister says that a top West Bank police officer detained over bribery suspicions was targeted by Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara because he was not trying to stop acts of vandalism by Jewish settlers in the West Bank.

In a post on X, Ben Gvir says that “Cdr. Avishai Mualem acted as he should and put the security of the [Jewish] residents of Judea and Samaria as his main priority and focused on combating Arab terror instead of chasing after youths with markers.”

“Mualem was implementing my policies, and for that he was detained. Apparently, it bothers the AG and so she chose have him arrested and sent to the interrogation room like a common criminal.”

Settler violence against Palestinians has soared since the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre and police have been accused of turning a blind eye to the attacks.

Extremist settlers regularly riot in West Bank Palestinian towns, causing damage to property and even injuring or occasionally killing Palestinian people.

Mualem, a senior officer in the West Bank division, was detained and questioned yesterday along with Israel Prison Service Chief Commissioner Kobi Yaakobi and another as-yet-unnamed officer.

Mualem was reported to be suspected of leaking classified information to Ben Gvir, who allegedly promised him a promotion in return.