[Salon] Haaretz Editorial: Israel's Politicized Police Are the Real Lawbreakers -

Israel's Politicized Police Are the Real Lawbreakers Haaretz EditorialSep 4, 2024 Two weeks ago, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir took another giant step toward turning the Israel Police into the executive arm of his party, Otzma Yehudit. He appointed his own commissioner after his first candidate, Avshalom Peled, withdrew his candidacy because he concluded that he'd be unable to pass the appointments committee. And in his very first test as commissioner, Danny Levy "justified" his appointment on Ben-Gvir's behalf after violating the position of the attorney general – and the law – by authorizing the promotion of Superintendent Meir Suissa despite his indictment for throwing stun grenades at demonstrators. Israel's High Court bars 'Pegasus panel' from calling cops to testify 'We're not stopping': Tens of thousands protest for hostage deal on third day of rage Never-before-seen footage of Netanyahu's interrogation to be exposed in new documentary It seems that the new police commissioner's subordinates have internalized the spirit of the new commander, which was evident in the handling of the latest demonstrations in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem supporting the hostage deal and opposing the government. An ill wind is blowing in the police. This was not always the case, even during the height of the protests against the judicial overhaul. In Tel Aviv the demonstrations were turned into a display of police brutality that included the use of mounted officers and Border Police who from the start used violence against protesters, and not as a last resort to disperse demonstrations. In Jerusalem, shortly after hundreds of young people returned from the funeral of their friend Hersh Goldberg-Polin and channeled their grief and anger into a demonstration in the city's streets, they were met with severe police brutality. The hands are the hands of police officers, but the spirit is the spirit of Ben-Gvir. It isn't only the field officers. Under the instruction of the Tel Aviv District Commander, Maj. Gen. Peretz Amar, and as part of his transparent attempt to curry favor with the man who might make him deputy commissioner, the order went out to conduct wholesale arrests with the use of force. In the past two days, 83 demonstrators were arrested during the protests that erupted in the wake of the murder of six hostages. Most were taken, as a punitive measure, to Israel Prison Service facilities, even though they could have been released immediately after being questioned (Haaretz Hebrew, Wednesday). The courts released all of them and imposed almost no restrictive conditions. A few of those arrested were cynically called "lawbreakers," but it was the police who abused their powers to arrest and intimidate. We must not become accustomed to this kind of behavior from the top ranks of the police force. Amar, Levy and other senior officials understand the minister's wishes and accede to them by violating the right to protest. Ben-Gvir's appointment was approved by the Supreme Court based on the assumption that the police would still be independent, but the situation has changed. The judgment of the commissioner, the Tel Aviv District commander and others is not independent and not professional; rather, it is distinctly political, as if they were Ben-Gvir Youth in uniform. All of this, together with Ben-Gvir's frequent and flagrant interference in the operations and staffing of the force, requires the attorney general's intervention and an appeal before the Supreme Court. When politics takes control of the police, it must be reined in. And of course we must not forget who appointed Ben-Gvir to his post, and why. The above article is Haaretz's lead editorial, as published in the Hebrew and English newspapers in Israel.