Top cop said to nix ceremony after Ben Gvir withholds approval of some promotions

Israel Police Commissioner Daniel Levy has canceled a ceremony promoting commanders because of National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s decision not to approve some of the advancements, Hebrew media reported Sunday.

According to multiple outlets, Levy canceled the ceremony after Ben Gvir told him he would only grant the ranks to the officers he approved, marking the latest spat between the two.

Among those whose ranks have not been approved are Carmel District police chief Merav Wagner, who was meant to become the head of the police’s Operations Division and receive the rank of assistant commissioner, the outlet reported, noting that Wagner is a close associate of Levy.

Ben Gvir and Levy are also at odds over the appointment to the Jerusalem District’s police legal adviser.

Associates of the minister told the Ynet news site that “dialogue between Ben Gvir and the police commissioner will continue soon” on the matter.

Ben Gvir still plans to attend a Rosh Hashanah toast for the Israel Police scheduled for Monday, the report said.

Critics, legal experts and the attorney general have accused the minister of using his authority in a manner that constitutes illegitimate intervention in the force, using promotions as a carrot-and-stick to influence police decision-making and advance his political agenda.

In August, Hebrew media outlets reported Ben Gvir was threatening to oust Tel Aviv’s top police commander over apparent dissatisfaction with his handling of anti-government protests in the coastal city, which would require the consent of Levy, who was opposed to the move.

In July, Ben Gvir reportedly circulated a letter against the promotion of an investigator involved in one of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trials, and was blocking her advancement since at least early June, also contrary to the wishes of Levy.

The latest reported clash on Sunday came after Levy told the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, in an interview published Friday, that he would enforce the instructions of the High Court of Justice if it overrules Ben Gvir’s orders.

In April, Levy had a brief public run-in with Ben Gvir, when the minister interrupted the top officer in front of the cameras as he vowed to uphold a future High Court ruling on the legality of the government’s dismissal of Shin Bet head Ronen Bar.

In the Friday interview with Yedioth, Levy said: “The police will always, first of all, listen to the instructions of the High Court of Justice. Something needs to be understood: the minister and government determine the policy; the enforcement is by the police commissioner with the [police]. And so that nobody gets confused: Although policy is determined by a government and a minister, it will be implemented as long as it does not contradict the law, or violate the law. Am I clear?”

Levy added that until now, Ben Gvir has not asked him to carry out illegal acts and there was “no chance” of him doing so in the near future.

“I am a man of the law, not some gangster that suddenly turned into the police commissioner,” he said.