Senior Police Frustrated as Ben Gvir Freezes Appointments Ahead of Holiday
Israel Police face severe tension as National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir freezes senior appointments ahead of the holiday. The move sparked a bitter dispute with Commissioner Danny Levy over political influence and fairness compared to the IPS.
A senior police officer expressed deep frustration on Wednesday over the complete freezing of senior promotions by National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, leaving dozens of commanders without their expected ranks ahead of the holiday.
"Let someone explain to the police officers why they are different? Why should professional officers who have proven themselves receive the holiday with great disappointment? Those who think the event is between the Commissioner and the Minister are unaware of what is happening in the organization's corridors," a senior police official stated.
The traditional Rosh Hashanah toast, which usually includes a ceremony for granting ranks and appointments, is taking place at the Police Academy against a backdrop of severe tension and a leadership showdown. The festive gathering was held in a charged atmosphere, with dozens of senior officers experiencing major disappointment after expecting promotions and ranks, only to be left empty-handed.
The Core Dispute: Appointments and the Attorney General
This tension stems from the decision of National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir to completely freeze the round of senior police appointments until the end of the election period, a step that sparked harsh exchanges between him and Police Commissioner Danny Levy.
At the root of the decision lies a deep disagreement over appointments and the identity of officeholders. The friction centered on the Commissioner's intention to promote Commander Tamar Liberty to the position of Deputy Legal Advisor to the Police—a move strongly opposed by Ben Gvir, who argued that the appointment is associated with Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and should not be approved during an election period.
Despite alleged prior understandings and directives preventing promotions during such a sensitive period, a direct exchange of accusations developed between the two. In a charged message sent to the minister, Commissioner Levy attacked the conduct and demanded that the deserving officers be signed off on their ranks ahead of the holiday: "I understand someone is making sure you don't calm down. As the Commissioner of the organization, I recommend signing off the deserving police officers on their ranks."
Ben Gvir retorted sharply, stating that he refuses to turn the police into a "puppet of the Attorney General" and that ultimate authority rests with the political echelon.
While police officials warn that leaving key positions vacant harms the organization's day-to-day operations, the Commissioner's entourage clarifies that the appointment process was entirely professional and objective. The National Security Minister's camp further claimed that the appointment process was not managed properly, lacking tenders and interviews.
The Comparison Stoking the Field: IPS Approved, Police Waiting
Frustration among police officers is intensifying significantly given the fact that in a parallel organization under the ministry's responsibility—the Israel Prison Service (IPS)—nearly one hundred senior appointments were recently approved without similar disruption, a fact that continues to rattle the ranks and raise difficult questions within the organization's corridors.
«Let someone explain to the police officers why they are different? Why should professional officers who have proven themselves receive the holiday with great disappointment?»
At this stage, the collision course between the Minister and the Commissioner is far from over, and the police rank-and-file continue to pay the price for the managerial and political crisis.
