Ben-Gvir Accuses Prosecutor of Police Pressure

Tensions between Israel’s security leadership and the justice system escalated on Sunday as National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir accused Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara of blackmailing Police Commissioner Insp.-Gen. Danny Levy. Speaking in an interview on 103FM, Ben-Gvir claimed the attorney-general is using pressure tactics to influence the police chief’s conduct in the wake of recent elections.

Ben-Gvir stated that Levy had previously implemented government policy effectively but had changed his approach recently. "Unfortunately, the police commissioner is being blackmailed," Ben-Gvir said. When asked to identify the source of the pressure, he replied, "The attorney-general." He described meetings where Levy was shouted at and suggested that the attorney-general held several items that allowed her to maintain leverage over the police chief.

The minister pointed to specific issues surrounding Levy’s personal conduct, directing listeners to search for building violations at the police commissioner’s residence. Ben-Gvir questioned who the building inspectors were and named Brig.-Gen. Arieh Doron, head of the Israel Police Spokesperson’s Division, as a key figure in the matter. "Arieh Doron, look into his role in this story," Ben-Gvir said. He added that the attorney-general was "terrorizing people" through these channels.

Ben-Gvir also targeted Maj.-Gen. Boaz Balet, who heads the Israel Police Investigations and Intelligence Division. Following reports that Balet prohibited police from transferring investigative materials to the Shin Bet in a case involving election integrity, Ben-Gvir called Balet a "fraud" and a "liar." He characterized Balet as an emissary for the attorney-general, tasked with closing cases and covering up information. "Boaz Balet is a fraud; he is a liar who has taken control of the Investigations and Intelligence Division and is running it as though it belongs to him," Ben-Gvir said.

The dispute centers on allegations of foreign interference in the election process. Ben-Gvir referenced NIS 100 million transferred in the case, noting that vouchers were visible and suspicions pointed to Qatar. He stated that materials had also been passed to the Joint List in prisons. While Ben-Gvir expressed outrage that the Shin Bet was not involved, he defended his own public image against claims by his aide Hanamel Dorfman. Dorfman suggested that high voter turnout among Arab parties was a protest against Ben-Gvir’s policies. Ben-Gvir dismissed this, calling it proof of his influence. "The claim that if the Arabs came out because of me, to bring down Itamar Ben-Gvir, that's the best proof that I've done what hasn't been done in 40 or 50 years," he said.

Brig.-Gen. Arieh Doron declined to comment on the remarks made by Ben-Gvir regarding his role in the police commissioner's building violation investigation.