Israel Police rejected allegations that Commissioner Insp. Gen. Danny Levy ordered excessive force against haredi, or ultra-Orthodox, protesters, issuing a statement on Monday as his dispute with National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir intensified. The force called on the minister to withdraw his accusations, while Ben-Gvir's office said he stood by his account.
The confrontation followed protests on Thursday that blocked Highway 4 near Bnei Brak and later spread to light rail tracks in Petah Tikva. Violence during the demonstrations left three police officers and several protesters injured. Police arrested three protesters. After demonstrators refused to disperse, officers declared the gatherings unlawful and used batons, stun grenades and a water cannon to clear the crowds.
In its statement, police denied that Levy had directed officers to act violently for improper reasons or contrary to legal requirements and established procedures. The force described the allegations as unfounded and said they were especially unacceptable coming from the minister with responsibility for the police. It also rejected any suggestion that commanders had deliberately sought to injure civilians.
Police said accusations of an intention to harm civilians amounted to an attack on the thousands of officers serving in the force. Describing itself as an apolitical organization, it said its responsibility was to protect public safety and security and perform its duties equally for all Israeli citizens. Police leaders and officers urged Ben-Gvir to retract his claims promptly, saying the accusations harmed everyone serving in the organization.
Ben-Gvir had accused Levy of directing violence against ultra-Orthodox demonstrators and alleged that the commissioner wanted to “see blood.” The minister also demanded that the High Court of Justice permit him to intervene in decisions about dispersing protests. After the police denial, his office reiterated the allegations and said he maintained everything he had said.
The minister further alleged that Levy directly contacted officers and district commanders during the unrest and told them to use batons against protesters. He separately accused the commissioner of unlawfully removing district commanders without ministerial approval. Ben-Gvir's office also claimed that Levy had gone abroad without authorization from the minister and remained outside Israel.
While expressing support for police officers, Ben-Gvir's office placed responsibility for the situation on Levy. It also accused the commissioner of courting Yair Golan, Yoav Segalovitz and Ra'am after the election results became known. Those assertions formed part of the minister's response to the police statement rejecting his allegations.
