Ben Gvir Petitions High Court to Overturn Police Protest Restrictions

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir filed an urgent petition with the High Court of Justice on Monday demanding the immediate annulment of an interim injunction prohibiting him from intervening in public demonstrations. In his submission, the minister launched a scathing attack on Inspector General of Police Danny Levi, alleging that the police chief ordered forces to use severe and excessive violence against ultra-Orthodox protesters.

According to the petition, Ben Gvir claimed to have received information that Levi instructed officers on the ground to employ batons and stun grenades even before protests commenced. The minister asserted that the police chief allegedly made a shocking remark in the field, stating he "wants to see blood," and accused Levi of acting out of political motives in the wake of recent election outcomes.

Ben Gvir further detailed a series of alleged disciplinary violations, claiming that Levi bypassed the chain of command by communicating directly with district and regional commanders, removed senior officers without statutory approval, repeatedly absented himself from situational assessments, and traveled abroad without prior authorization. The minister also alleged a policy of selective enforcement that disproportionately targets ultra-Orthodox demonstrators compared to left-wing protesters.

The dramatic legal move follows a sharp statement issued earlier by the Israel Police, defending the inspector general against internal criticism. The police statement dismissed reports of a leadership crisis as being driven by interested parties seeking to undermine the police chief, maintaining that law enforcement operates impartially and without yielding to external pressures.