Policewoman whose promotion is blocked by Ben Gvir plans court appeal

Ch. Supt. Ruti Hauslich, a high-ranking police investigator whose promotion is being blocked by National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, has announced her intention to appeal the move in court, Hebrew outlets report.

Two days ago, the far-right minister officially announced his refusal to allow Hauslich to advance in rank, defying senior police brass including Chief Commissioner Danny Levy who seek to promote her from chief superintendent to commander.

He accused the officer of presenting positions in Knesset committee meetings that “contradict those of the Israel Police and National Security Ministry.” Such behavior, he claimed, amounts to impersonating authority, presenting false information to non-police bodies, and violating the law and the police code of conduct.

Hauslich is the second female officer in the police’s investigations and intelligence division to draw Ben Gvir’s ire over what he claims are “serious lapses” in their conduct.

Earlier this week, the Jerusalem District Court ordered Ben Gvir to stand down and sign off on the promotion of Supt. Rinat Saban, who testified in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trial.

Ben Gvir has been blocking Saban’s promotion since last summer, motivated by what the court said were likely “external considerations” that pose a threat to police’s independence.

Despite the ruling, Ben Gvir is refusing to budge and announced plans to appeal the decision in the Supreme Court.

Ben Gvir previously cited Saban’s purported lack of professionalism as the reason for his veto, but more recently stated that her role in the “illegal” probe into Netanyahu should serve as grounds for her dismissal from the force.