Political figure trying to delegitimize, oust Israel Police Commissioner Levi, sources tell Walla

NOVEMBER 2, 2026 16:01Tensions between National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Israel Police Commissioner Insp. Gen. Daniel Levi are escalating, with sources close to the commissioner now accusing a political figure of attempting to have him removed from office.Following a series of public clashes between the two, the commissioner's office issued an unusual statement on Monday, alleging that individuals with vested interests were working behind the scenes to undermine his position through anonymous media briefings. Although Ben-Gvir was not mentioned in the statement, the allegations come amid a growing rift between the two.Speaking to Walla, sources close to the commissioner went further, claiming that a political figure was behind the effort to undermine his position."A political figure is using the terms 'senior police official' or 'police source' in an attempt to oust the commissioner, when the person in question is actually a political figure," they said.However, the sources did not identify the political figure or provide evidence linking that individual to the briefings.National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Chief of Police Daniel Levi attend a ceremony for 234 new traffic police vehicles as part of a new national road-safety program, at the Israel Police headquarters in Jerusalem, November 30, 2025. (credit: CHAIM GOLDBERG/FLASH90)Sources close to Levi also linked the allegations to the ongoing dispute with the political leadership over the police budget and appointments to senior positions."We will continue to demand the police budget and the filling of important positions in order to provide services to the citizens of the State of Israel," they stressed in their conversation with Walla.Their remarks followed an unusual official statement issued on Levi's behalf, criticizing reports of a crisis of confidence and a loss of control within the police."The repeated attempt to create a false impression of a loss of control and a crisis of confidence in Israel Police, through anonymous briefings attributed to 'police sources' or a 'senior police official,' raises concerns that these are individuals with vested interests acting on behalf of someone seeking to harm the commissioner and undermine his position," the statement read.The allegation is particularly unusual coming from the office of Israel's highest-ranking police officer. Rather than simply denying reports about the situation within the organization, Levi's office suggested that some of them may be part of a deliberate effort to weaken his position.The comments to Walla add an explicitly political dimension to the allegation, highlighting the deep suspicion among those close to Levi toward individuals briefing the media against him.Latest confrontation follows haredi protest on Highway 4The latest confrontation between Ben-Gvir and Levi came on Thursday, following the dispersal of a haredi (ultra-Orthodox) protest on Highway 4, near the Geha Interchange.Three police officers and several protesters were injured during the clashes, prompting police to use crowd dispersal measures.Ben-Gvir went beyond criticizing the officers' actions on the ground, personally attacking Levi and accusing him of making politically motivated decisions to win favor with those who might replace the current government.The minister claimed that Levi was trying to "curry favor with leftists" and said the commissioner had followed his requests for a year and a half before changing his approach after the elections.The remarks underscored the extent of the breakdown in relations between the two and renewed questions about the limits of the minister's authority over the police and the commissioner's professional independence.Police rejected the criticism, emphasizing that officers must enforce the law and maintain public order regardless of who is protesting.Now, just days after Ben-Gvir's attack, sources close to Levi allege that a political figure is trying to have him removed through anonymous media briefings.However, the dispute between the two began months earlier.In September, tensions flared over a round of senior police appointments. Ben-Gvir sought to freeze the appointments until after the elections, while Levi pushed to move forward.One point of contention was the appointment of Chief Superintendent Tamar Liberty as deputy legal adviser to the police, a move Ben-Gvir opposed.The dispute later extended to the police budget.Levi appealed to Ben-Gvir and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, warning that delaying the transfer of NIS 333 million to the police was undermining the organization's ability to carry out its duties.Ben-Gvir responded with criticism of his own, accusing Levi of being controlled by the attorney-general.Within weeks, disagreements over appointments, budgets, and the use of force at protests had escalated into an open confrontation between the minister responsible for the police and the commissioner leading the organization.With sources close to Levi now explicitly alleging that a political figure is seeking his dismissal, the dispute appears to have expanded to the question of whether the commissioner will remain in office.Commissioner's office warns against external pressureMonday's statement also warned those criticizing the commissioner through anonymous media briefings."Anyone wishing to criticize the functioning of the police would do well to do so openly, rather than hide behind anonymous briefings and attempts to weaken the organization and the person leading it," the statement read.Levi's office emphasized that the commissioner continues to lead the police in addressing security and operational challenges, including violent disturbances, road blockages, and attacks on police officers and civilians.It also stressed that the police would continue to enforce the law equally, without bias or discrimination between different sectors of society.The commissioner's office concluded with a firm message:"The police commissioner will continue to lead the organization in accordance with the law and his professional judgment, without fear and without yielding to external pressure."The emphasis on resisting external pressure, coupled with the new allegation made to Walla about a political effort to remove Levi, gives the statement broader significance.Nevertheless, despite the bitter confrontation with Ben-Gvir, sources close to the commissioner stopped short of explicitly identifying the minister as the person behind the alleged effort.The dispute also marks a significant shift in the relationship between the two.Ben-Gvir was the one who selected Levi as police commissioner. However, the officer who was expected to be his main partner in overseeing the police has since become the target of his sharp criticism.With sources close to Levi now alleging an attempt to oust him, the dispute is no longer confined to appointments, budgets, or police conduct during demonstrations. It has also raised questions about the commissioner's future.The identity of the political figure cited by sources close to Levi remains unclear, as does whether the anonymous briefings are part of a coordinated effort, as they allege.What is clear is that relations between the minister and the commissioner have deteriorated into a bitter public confrontation, with the police organization they oversee at the center of the dispute.Follow us on Google