Ben-Gvir cries 'coup attempt' amid probe into senior prison official
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The deepening rift between Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s extremist policies and other branches of Israeli authority has raised concerns that such divisions could lead to an internal war.
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Israeli Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir is on hand for a speech by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Knesset in occupied al-Quds, Monday, June 14, 2021. (AP)
The Israeli Department of Internal Police Investigations announced on Monday that a senior officer from the Prison Service had been detained for questioning over allegations of obstruction of an investigation and breach of trust. Additionally, two police officers were also detained in connection with the case.
Far-right Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, whose Ministry oversees both the police and prison service, accused Justice Ministry officials of orchestrating a “coup” and using intimidation tactics against officers to hinder the implementation of his policies.
Israeli media stressed that a gag order restricts the release of many details about the case, including the identities of those involved.
The senior prison official and one of the police officers are both closely associated with Ben-Gvir, as per the reports.
The senior prison official is under suspicion for obstruction of an investigation and breach of trust, according to a statement from the Department of Internal Police Investigations (DIPI), which noted that the questioning followed an undercover operation.
A source familiar with the incident revealed to the media that when DIPI officers approached the senior official’s vehicle outside his home in the morning, his security team initially believed it to be an assassination attempt and drew their weapons.
One of the police officers, a senior commander, is suspected of integrity violations, misconduct, breach of trust, and abuse of authority. The other officer, a superintendent, is facing allegations of bribery.
Ben-Gvir rocked by another scandal
Israeli media reported that the prison officer is suspected of asking a female police officer to request that another individual remove certain messages on the Telegram app, which were considered harmful to Ben-Gvir. The Ynet outlet reported that the officer implied the third person's career advancement would depend on fulfilling the request. However, the outlet did not provide further details on the third person's role or position.
The Kan public broadcaster reported that the female police officer had been suspended from her position for several months.
Senior police officers were reportedly “shocked” by the developments, and Kan noted that many are unusually tight-lipped about the situation.
Ben-Gvir claimed that the arrests were part of his ongoing dispute with Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, who has pushed for his removal due to his repeated interference in police operations and his alleged politicization of police promotions.
“The attorney general and the State Prosecutor’s Office are using the Department of Internal Police Investigations to deter a very senior officer in the Prison Service and police officers from carrying out my policy and that of the right-wing government,” Ben-Gvir wrote on X.
He stated that “a clear red line has been crossed” and called the actions “an attempted coup.”
Dive deeper
Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara informed Ben-Gvir in the morning that several officers would be detained. In response, his Otzma Yehudit party quickly issued a statement, ahead of the Department of Internal Police Investigations (DIPI), announcing that the party's weekly faction meeting had been postponed due to an “urgent meeting that came up at the last moment.” Ben-Gvir was also scheduled to hold a press conference later that day.
Haaretz reported that one of the detained police officers was appointed by Ben-Gvir to a senior role in the West Bank division of the force. The Shin Bet security service is reportedly dissatisfied with the management of the division, particularly "its department handling Jewish terrorism, feeling it is failing in its duties and becoming disconnected from Shin Bet’s own operations."
The officers' questioning came just a week after five former staff members from Ben-Gvir's office were investigated by the police major crimes unit over suspicions that firearms permits were issued improperly.
Ben-Gvir reacted to this investigation by accusing Baharav-Miara of attempting “a coup against democracy.”
Baharav-Miara has had repeated clashes with members of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s right-wing government, particularly over some of the government’s far-reaching policies. Tensions have escalated amid ongoing investigations involving the premier's staff.
Ben-Gvir and others have openly called for Baharav-Miara’s dismissal. Last week, Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi revealed that 13 ministers had signed a document urging the government to fire the attorney general.
As Ben-Gvir and his allies continue to openly demand the removal of officials who challenge his authority, the Israeli entity finds itself on the brink of a potentially dangerous clash between its ruling factions.
Read more: Ben-Gvir says Palestinians 'should be shot in the head'
