Ben Gvir sparks outcry in police as he tries to block promotion of officer who probed Netanyahu

In an overt clash with police brass, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir reportedly circulated a letter this morning against the promotion of a police investigator involved in one of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trials.

The letter alleged that the officer in question, Supt. Rinat Saban lacks the qualifications to advance to the rank of chief superintendent over so-called “memory issues,” Hebrew media reports.

Ben Gvir’s letter and the ensuing news stories published about the high-ranking investigator prompted a fierce response from the Israel Police, who came out with an official statement demanding the “immediate removal of the offensive publications” surrounding Saban.

In the statement, police say Saban’s promotion was “thoroughly examined by the Chief Commissioner and a panel of senior police officers… who decided that she is worthy of attending the police Command and Staff course and promotion.”

Ben Gvir has reportedly been blocking Saban’s promotion since early June. In March, she testified against Netanyahu in court and had previously probed his advisers Jonatan Urich and Ofer Golan on suspicion they harassed Shlomo Filber, a state witness in Case 4000, the most serious of the premier’s ongoing corruption trials.

She currently serves as an assistant to the head of the police’s investigations and intelligence department, Deputy Commissioner Boaz Blatt.

Ben Gvir’s opposition to Saban’s promotion marks the latest in a series of run-ins in recent months between him and police chief Danny Levy, who has reportedly taken issue with the minister’s interference in police appointments and operational decision-making.