National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir escalated his confrontation with Israel’s police leadership on Sunday, accusing Deputy Commissioner Boaz Balat of blocking the transfer of election interference data to the Shin Bet security service without his personal approval. The dispute centers on an investigation into suspected foreign attempts to influence Israel’s election, a probe that has widened the rift between the minister and the force he oversees.
The Directive and the Accusations
Ben-Gvir claimed Balat, who heads the Police Investigations and Intelligence Division, ordered investigators not to share information connected to the election interference investigation with the Shin Bet unless Balat approved it first. The minister told 103FM radio that Balat acts as “the attorney general’s emissary for closing cases, covering things up and sweeping them under the rug,” later calling him “a fraud” and “a liar.”
According to the Ynet report, Balat’s directive did not halt cooperation with the Shin Bet entirely but inserted a layer of approval for any election-related information or investigative assistance. Ben-Gvir alleged Balat took control of the investigations division and interfered in a case previously handled by Lahav 433 chief Manny Binyamin.
Allegations of Foreign Money and Qatar
The minister used the controversy to promote broader allegations involving foreign funding. He cited reports that Shin Bet Director David Zini had spoken of 100 million shekels being transferred and claimed Qatar may have been involved. However, those claims about foreign money and Qatar have not been established as investigative findings; the suspicions remain under examination.
Widening Feud With Police Leadership
The attack on Balat marks a shift in Ben-Gvir’s feud, which had largely centered on Police Commissioner Danny Levy until now. Ben-Gvir, who once strongly championed Levy’s appointment, claimed the commissioner’s approach toward him had changed “180 degrees” due to pressure from Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara. He alleged the attorney general pressures Levy during meetings and holds unspecified “pressure points” against him, though he presented no evidence to support the claim.
Ben-Gvir also pointed to separate allegations regarding building violations at Levy’s private home and the involvement of police personnel in overseeing construction there, suggesting the affair could leave the commissioner vulnerable to pressure. Israel Police declined to respond to Ben-Gvir’s allegations.
Police Response and Institutional Tensions
In a statement released Monday, Israel Police condemned Ben-Gvir’s allegations as “serious, absurd and disgraceful accusations that cross every line, particularly coming from the minister responsible for the police.” The force emphasized it is an “apolitical organization” committed to ensuring public safety equally for all citizens. The statement followed violent protests near Bnei Brak on Thursday, where three police officers and several protesters were injured, and which prompted Ben-Gvir to demand the High Court of Justice allow him to intervene in decisions concerning the dispersal of protests.
Background on the Minister
Itamar Ben-Gvir has served as minister of national security since 2022, with a two-month gap in early 2025 when he resigned over the Gaza war ceasefire deal before returning to the government. He leads Otzma Yehudit, a far-right party that won six seats in the 2022 Knesset elections and is part of the thirty-seventh government of Israel. Ben-Gvir has a long history of controversial statements and actions, including convictions for incitement to racism and support for a banned organization.
Sources
- ‘Liar and fraud’: Ben-Gvir attacks police brass over handling of election interference probe
- Itamar Ben-Gvir
- Israel Police denies Itamar Ben-Gvir claims of violence against haredim | The Jerusalem Post
- Ben Gvir responds to Netanyahu’s unity government proposal: ‘I hope he won’t abandon us’
Photo: אלון נוריאל (CC BY-SA 3.0)
