Court blocks Ben Gvir’s promotion of cop indicted for throwing stun grenade at protesters

The Jerusalem District Court has barred Israel Police Supt. Meir Suissa from taking charge of the South Tel Aviv police station, rejecting National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s bid to promote the indicted officer, who threw a stun grenade into a crowd of anti-government protesters.

The national security minister decried the ruling handed down last night, calling Suissa a “talented and respected police officer who has fallen prey to a judicial system that is busy constantly thwarting government policy.”

“As I promised the prime minister earlier today, we will do everything in our power, using the tools available to us in the Knesset, to put an end to this harassment and persecution,” continued Ben Gvir, who oversees the police, as quoted by Hebrew outlets.

Ben Gvir promoted Suissa to the rank of chief superintendent just a month after he was indicted on charges of reckless and negligent behavior in July 2024 over his conduct while dispersing an anti-government protest in Tel Aviv a year prior.

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara called the promotion — made without the police chief’s recommendation — illegal. The Jerusalem District Court froze Suissa’s promotion in September last year, which Ben Gvir then appealed.

Suissa was filmed throwing a stun grenade directly into a crowd of protesters during the March 2023 demonstration, hospitalizing a woman with a direct hit to her face.

He was indicted alongside four other officers accused of throwing stun grenades towards the crowds, who had not been acting violently towards police officers. At the time, Ben Gvir praised Suissa for his handling of the demonstration.