Police scrap senior appointment for man convicted of race-based crimes, accused of anti-LGBTQ incitement

The Aguda LGBTQ umbrella organization says it received official notice from police chief Daniel Levy that the senior appointment of Rahamim Hugi, who reportedly called for violence against members of the LGBTQ community and has a criminal record that includes assault and race-based crimes, has been canceled.

A police spokesperson confirms to The Times of Israel that Levy pulled the appointment of Hugi to head the new ultra-Orthodox enlistment department.

“The direct and consistent contact of the Aguda with police leadership has led to the cancellation of a serious and unacceptable appointment of a man who has called for violence and murder against the LGBTQ community,” says Aguda chair Nimrod Gornstein.

“This is not just an LGBTQ issue,” says Gornstein. “With its opposition to the appointment, the Aguda speaks for everyone who condemns racism, hatred and incitement.”

The i24 outlet reported last night that Hugi had been confirmed as head of police’s new ultra-Orthodox enlistment directorate, with a rank of chief superintendent.

The outlet first reported in November, without naming Hugi, that a man accused of racist and anti-LGBTQ incitement was in the lead to become police’s new ultra-Orthodox enlistment czar. At the time, the candidate was said to be the favorite of far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s close circle.

Hugi was reportedly arrested at the 2015 Jerusalem Pride Parade, where ultra-Orthodox extremist Yishai Schlissel went on a stabbing rampage, killing 16-year-old Shira Banki and wounding five others. According to i24, Hugi attended the Pride Parade as a counter-protester and called for all participants in the parade to be stabbed.

In a court filing the following year, police said Hugi had a “a very lengthy criminal record” that included assault, damage to property and race-based crimes, i24 says.