Foto:Yonatan Sindel/Flash90: Daniel Levy
At Sunday’s government session, Israeli ministers unanimously approved the appointment of Daniel Levy as the new Chief Inspector of Police. The announcement was made by Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, who emphasized that Levy “comes with a strong Zionist and Jewish agenda” and will lead the police force toward achieving the goals set before him.
Daniel Levy previously served as the Deputy Chief of the Jerusalem District Police until April 2023. Under pressure from Ben-Gvir, he was promoted to Chief of Police in the Hof District, where he became known for his particularly harsh approach to suppressing anti-government protests, particularly those opposing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Caesarea.
The courts have repeatedly accused the Hof District Police of unlawful arrests of demonstrators, even recommending that wrongfully detained protesters file civil lawsuits seeking compensation for the police’s misconduct.
Levy’s appointment as Chief Inspector comes after Ben-Gvir’s unsuccessful attempt to appoint Avshalom Peled to the role. Media outlets recalled Peled’s involvement in a criminal case (in 2015, he was a suspect in a police corruption investigation), which ultimately led Peled to decline the offer, opting to remain as Acting Commissioner instead.
Levy’s appointment has sparked considerable debate in Israeli society. His reputation as a decisive leader with a tough management style raises both hopes for increased police efficiency and concerns about potential human rights violations during protests and civil disobedience actions.
This was reported by Time Ukraine Israel, citing Israelinfo.co.il.
