Amichai Eshed

Israel Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai (second right) speaks to officers at a police training facility near Kfar Sirkin, in central Israel, March 17, 2023. (Israel Police)

March 17, 2023, 2:47 pm

Police chief vows force to stay ‘apolitical,’ in apparent dig at Ben Gvir

Kobi Shabtai says cops will only act according to law, days after AG tells High Court that far-right minister may have ‘crossed the line’ by meddling in police operations

By ToI Staff

Police chief Kobi Shabtai, left, and Itamar Ben Gvir at a Hanukkah ceremony in Jerusalem on December 19, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

March 15, 2023, 10:09 am

Fears of police politicization have already been realized, laments deputy AG

As Knesset committee debates bill subordinating police commissioner to Ben Gvir, Gil Limon says original law passed in December has been enough to erode force’s independence

By Michael Bachner

National Security Minister in Jerusalem for discussions with senior police officials ahead of a planned protest against the government's judicial overhaul legislation outside the Knesset, February 20, 2023. (Arie Leib Abrams/Flash90)

March 14, 2023, 4:52 pm

High Court rejects Ben Gvir’s effort to circumvent AG with private legal counsel

The national security minister had sought High Court’s permission to use alternate representation in legal motions against him, due to his ‘lack of faith’ in the attorney general

By Jeremy Sharon

March 13, 2023, 8:05 pm

Police chief said to order senior cops to avoid direct contact with Itamar Ben Gvir

Instruction reportedly comes after minister pressured commanders during protests; top Tel Aviv cop Eshed rejects Shabtai apology following near-ousting

By ToI Staff

Chief of Police Kobi Shabtai speaks with IDF Chief of Staff, Herzi Halevi (left) at the Police headquarters in Jerusalem on January 27, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

March 13, 2023, 1:11 pm

Daily Briefing Mar. 13: IDF head’s corrected gaffe underscores conflicted military

Editor David Horovitz on botched dismissal of Tel Aviv’s top cop, whether now is the time for a constitution; military correspondent Emanuel Fabian on Thursday’s terror attack

By ToI Staff

Composite photo: Otzma Yehudit chairman Itamar Ben Gvir, left, during a faction meeting at the Knesset on November 21, 2022; Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara speaks at Tel Aviv University on September 28, 2022. (Flash90)

March 13, 2023, 11:17 am

Ben Gvir, AG tensions spike over High Court petitions, Tel Aviv police chief affair

Baharav-Miara says can’t agree to ultranationalist minister’s request he be granted independent counsel for High Court petitions against expansion of ministerial power over police

By Jeremy Sharon

Otzma Yehudit chief Itamar Ben Gvir (R) and Israel Police Commissioner Yaakov Shabtai attend a Hanukkah ceremony at the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City, December 19, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

March 13, 2023, 6:58 am

Tel Aviv police crisis presages potential constitutional showdown

Should the High Court move to strike down judicial overhaul and the government reject its ruling, an unprecedented crisis looms; police and army would be unclear on whom to follow

By Carrie Keller-Lynn

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir seen at the entrance to the Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv ahead of anti-government demonstrations, March 9, 2023. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

March 12, 2023, 7:08 pm

Ben Gvir demands independent counsel, says he can’t rely on attorney general

Far-right minister slams Gali Baharav-Miara for ‘exceeding her authority’ by freezing move to reassign top cop; warns ‘day is coming when we will need to make a decision about her’

By Jeremy Sharon

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem on March 12, 2023. (Haim Zach / GPO)

March 12, 2023, 4:22 pm

Netanyahu swipes at AG: In a democracy, government is responsible for police, army

PM’s comment comes after Baharav-Miara froze Tel Aviv police chief’s transfer ordered by Ben Gvir, and warned against bill to grant security forces immunity from prosecution

By ToI Staff

Journalist Uri Misgav speaks at a conference of the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, held in Tel Aviv on March 28, 2019. (Flash90)

March 12, 2023, 12:21 pm

Police question journalist outside his home over anti-Netanyahu tweet

Haaretz reporter Uri Misgav accosted by cops after apparently warning PM, wife not to go to Berlin on Wednesday, later saying he meant due to ‘democratic protests that await them’

By Ash Obel

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on March 10, 2023 in Rome. (Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP)

March 12, 2023, 10:54 am

Source close to Netanyahu accuses US of funding rallies against judicial overhaul

PM’s son shares Breitbart’s claim that State Department funded protest group; senior official says AG ‘irredeemably audacious’ for freezing transfer of Tel Aviv police chief

By Shalom Yerushalmi

Demonstrators attend a protest in Tel Aviv against the government's controversial judicial overhaul legislation, March 11, 2023. (Jack Guez/AFP)

March 11, 2023, 10:38 pm

Anti-overhaul protesters call to turn up heat as over 300,000 estimated at rallies

Organizers claim half a million attend weekly protests, plan ‘day of escalating resistance’ on Thursday; coalition scheduled to drive contentious bills through Knesset committee

By ToI Staff

Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai speaks during a press conference in Tel Aviv, on March 11, 2023. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

March 11, 2023, 10:18 pm

Police chief admits he was wrong to oust Tel Aviv’s top cop, says he’s not resigning

After intense public criticism of Amichai Eshed’s removal at Ben Gvir’s prodding, Kobi Shabtai says he’s done ‘soul-searching’ in past 48 hours but will not walk away from task

By ToI Staff

Tens of thousands of Israelis protest against the government's judicial overhaul moves, in Tel Aviv on March 4, 2023. (Gili Yaari/Flash90)

March 11, 2023, 11:06 am

10th week of mass protests nationwide, with overhaul laws potentially only days away

Rallies across Israel as coalition scheduled to drive contentious bills through committee this week, despite Herzog plea for ‘disastrous’ legislation to be abandoned immediately

By ToI Staff

A composite image of Tel Aviv District Commander Amichai Eshed, Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai, and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90 and Erik Marmor/Flash90)

March 11, 2023, 3:58 am

Tel Aviv’s ousted top cop said to tell police commissioner he’s ‘unfit’ to lead force

6 deputy commissioners call for Shabtai to resign over his handling of now-frozen removal of Eshed, linked to Ben Gvir’s criticism of restrained response to protesters

By ToI Staff