Ben Gvir stands by claim police chief Danny Levy 'wants to see blood'

Update, 2 November, 21:07 Israel time

Itamar Ben Gvir has refused the police commissioner's call to retract his accusations. Ynet reported in a news alert that the national security minister, replying to Danny Levy, said he stands behind what he said.

News.co.il, citing the minister's office, reported that Ben Gvir maintains his claims against Levy and continues to accuse the commissioner of instructing officers to use increased force against Haredi demonstrators. The same report said the police are still firmly rejecting the allegations.

The minister's reply, as carried in both reports, does not include any evidence for the remark attributed to Levy or for the alleged instructions on the use of force, and neither report says whether Ben Gvir addressed the commissioner's specific objections. Neither outlet published further statements from Levy or the police beyond noting that the force continues to dispute the claims. There is still no indication in the reports of when the High Court might take up the petition.

The story as first reported

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has accused Israel's police commissioner, Danny Levy, of directing officers to use harsh force against ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) protesters, alleging in a court filing that Levy said he wanted to see blood. The Times of Israel reported that the accusation came in a petition asking the High Court of Justice to cancel an April injunction that bars the minister from interfering in how police use force.

Levy answered sharply on Monday. According to the commissioner's statement, as published by Amit Segal, he described the allegations as "serious, outlandish and shameful" and said the Israel Police "is not a tool for political attacks." Ynet reported that Levy called on the minister to retract what he had said.

What the petition alleges

According to The Times of Israel's account of the filing, the petition states that over the past two weeks a remark attributed to Levy, that he "wants to see blood", came to the minister's attention. The filing says that, as part of this approach, Levy instructed officers to rely more heavily on clubs and stun grenades when breaking up demonstrations by what it called extremist Haredi factions. The Times of Israel also reported that Ben Gvir links the alleged policy to an effort to placate the opposition after Tuesday's election.

The petition goes beyond the protests. The Times of Israel said Ben Gvir also accuses Levy of travelling abroad in recent days without ministerial approval and of missing work meetings on occasions the filing does not specify.

Ynet reported that Ben Gvir made the accusations without presenting evidence, and that the filing claims the use of clubs and stun grenades ran contrary to police procedures. Haaretz described the allegation as one of ordering excessive force against ultra-Orthodox demonstrators.

How the police responded

The response came both from Levy personally and from the police as an institution. In the commissioner's statement, he said the accusations were especially troubling because they came from the minister responsible for the police, who, he said, should be backing officers and commanders rather than smearing them, casting doubt on their professionalism and eroding public trust in those charged with its safety. He added that he and the force would continue to act in a professional and non-partisan manner.

A separate police statement, reported by N12 correspondent Barhanu Tegenya, called the claim that Levy had directed violence against Haredi protesters for improper reasons, or in breach of the law and procedures, baseless and outrageous. News.co.il reported that the police urged Ben Gvir to withdraw his remarks and stressed that the force operates professionally and apolitically.

Who the two men are

Ben Gvir heads the National Security Ministry, the government department with responsibility for the Israel Police. Levy is the police commissioner, the force's most senior officer. In Hebrew he holds the rank of Rav-Nitzav, and Israeli media refer to the post as the Mafkal, the commissioner. The confrontation therefore pits the minister charged with overseeing the force against the officer who commands it.

The court and the injunction

The High Court of Justice is the Israeli Supreme Court sitting to hear petitions against state authorities, and it is often called by its Hebrew acronym, Bagatz. According to Ynet and The Times of Israel, an interim order issued in April currently prevents Ben Gvir from involving himself in police decisions about the use of force at protests. The minister's petition asks the court to lift that order. The Times of Israel quoted the filing as saying the request is urgent because of what it calls a real fear of danger to human life and of bloodshed.

Haredi protests

Haredi, or ultra-Orthodox, Jews are a religiously strict community within Israeli society. The reports refer to police dispersing demonstrations by Haredi groups but do not describe which protests are meant, where they took place or what they concerned.

What the reports do not say

None of the reports identifies who allegedly heard Levy say he wanted to see blood, or how the remark reached the minister. Ynet states that no evidence was presented. The reports do not specify which demonstrations the alleged orders applied to, whether anyone was hurt, or what police procedures on clubs and stun grenades require. They do not say when the court might consider the petition or whether a hearing has been set. The coverage also does not detail the original reasons the April injunction was issued, or where Levy is said to have travelled. Levy's statement addresses the core accusation but, in the portions published, does not respond directly to the claims about travel abroad and missed meetings.