Ben Gvir Eyes Police Chief Ouster After Violence

The minister emphasized that while he provides full backing to police officers operating with courage and determination, there would be zero tolerance for excessive violence or conduct inconsistent with police values and the law. "I will not hesitate to use my legal authority to permanently remove officers and commanders involved in the incident from the Israel Police, including the Bnei Brak-Ramat Gan station commander, if the investigation reveals serious violations of protocols," he declared.

Ben Gvir is expected to convene an urgent meeting this week with all relevant officials before making a final decision on potential dismissals. The move signals a rare intervention by the National Security Minister in operational police matters, particularly given his typically strong support for law enforcement.

Pattern of Protocol Violations

The Route 4 incident has become a flashpoint in a broader controversy over police conduct at haredi demonstrations. New video evidence compiled by the Committee to Save the World of Torah reveals officers have been systematically violating use-of-force protocols at ultra-Orthodox protests for weeks, deploying stun grenades in ways explicitly forbidden by department regulations.

The footage documents officers throwing stun grenades directly at protesters' heads and bodies, deliberately turning off body cameras before attacks, and senior commanders visibly coordinating illegal grenade deployments. In one video, a haredi man is evacuated to hospital after a stun grenade strikes him directly. In another, an officer switches off his body camera moments before hurling a grenade straight into a crowd.

Police regulations explicitly prohibit direct throws of stun grenades at individuals and mandate they be rolled along the ground to disperse crowds. The documented violations appear to occur exclusively at haredi protests, raising questions about whether ultra-Orthodox demonstrators face different enforcement standards than other groups.

The Committee to Save the World of Torah sent a detailed letter to Police Commissioner Levy on June 10 warning of systematic protocol violations and requesting immediate intervention. The letter went unanswered, and three days later the Route 4 violence erupted, leaving protesters with torn clothing and bloodied faces.

Parliamentary Inquiry Gains Momentum

The controversy has triggered unprecedented political fallout. United Torah Judaism lawmaker Uri Maklev has initiated a parliamentary inquiry into police conduct during anti-draft protests, and political analysts assess it could gain sufficient votes to advance — a scenario considered unusual for law enforcement oversight.

The inquiry has attracted support from an unlikely coalition: haredi parties whose constituents have borne the brunt of police operations, and opposition lawmakers angered by Ben Gvir's broader approach to public order. The convergence of interests has created a rare test of coalition unity over how law enforcement is deployed against ultra-Orthodox demonstrators.

Ben Gvir's letter Tuesday attempted to balance his traditional law-and-order stance with accountability for officers who cross legal boundaries. "My duty is to back officers who act to protect public security," he stated, "but also to act decisively when officers step out of line and harm citizens. No one is above the law, and commanders too will be required to give an accounting for their actions."