Ben Gvir: Police chief "pandering to left" after elections

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir launched a sharp attack Thursday on Police Commissioner Danny Levy, following images from the Geha Junction and police conduct toward the chareidi public. Ben Gvir accused the commissioner of attempting to position himself with the left after the Knesset elections, claiming he is acting unlawfully toward chareidim.

"The police commissioner has been behaving for several days now like someone who wants to please the next government, thinking he will find favor in the eyes of Yair Golan," Ben Gvir said, referring to the commissioner's conduct.

The minister connected the images from Geha Junction to what he described as a shift in Levy's approach. "The deranged images from Geha Junction are part of Levy's new agenda to pander to leftists," he said.

Itamar Ben Gvir and Danny Levy (Photo: Chaim Goldberg, Flash 90)

Ben Gvir did not limit his criticism to the commissioner's current conduct, but also addressed their relationship over the past year and a half. He claimed that Levy had acted according to his demands until now, but changed his behavior immediately after the elections.

"It is regrettable that Levy, who did everything I requested for a year and a half, is acting the day after the elections in violation of the law toward chareidim and turning them into his punching bag," the minister said.

Earlier in the evening, a police source leveled sharp criticism at Commissioner Danny Levy, claiming he changed his conduct after the Knesset elections in order to secure a fourth year in office, even if a left-wing government is formed. According to the source, Levy is trying to build relationships with political figures who may form the next government, while changing his attitude toward the chareidi public and toward National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who appointed him to the position.

"Police Commissioner Danny Levy has launched a campaign to secure a fourth year in office under a Yair Golan government," the source claimed, adding: "He is kicking chareidim and Minister Ben Gvir who appointed him, all in order to find favor with those who may form the next government."