‘Coup d’etat’? – Ben Gvir blasts investigation into police, prison service leaks ordered by attorney general

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir sharply criticized a new police investigation into suspected illicit leaks within the police and prison services, calling it an attempted “coup d’etat” by Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara.

The investigation centers on the suspicion that a yet-unnamed police officer with the rank of Commander leaked sensitive information to Ben Gvir, who is in charge of the Israel Police and the Israel Prison Service (IPS), known by its Hebrew acronym Shabas.

Ben Gvir, in turn, allegedly promised to promote the police officer, who holds a senior position in the Judea and Samaria Division.

The senior officer is suspected of integrity violations, breach of duty, breach of trust, and abuse of his position. His detention has been extended until Thursday. Additionally, another officer is being investigated for alleged involvement in bribery.

When the police investigation was revealed on Monday, Ben Gvir immediately convened a special press briefing.

The investigation is “a coup d’etat,” the minister said, accusing Baharav-Miara and the state attorney of “using the police’s internal investigation department (DIPI) to deter a very senior officer of the Shabas and police officers from carrying out my policy and that of the right-wing government. A bright red line was crossed this morning.”

The new probe comes about two weeks after Baharav-Miara urged the prime minister to consider replacing Ben Gvir, claiming his “alleged improper interventions in police activities and the dependency of police officers on the minister for their advancement undermines the ability to ensure that the police act in loyalty to the public, rather than to the political echelon.”

In addition to the two police suspects, Shabas Chief Commissioner Kobi Yaakobi, who was appointed by Ben Gvir and is his former security advisor, was detained and questioned for approximately 13 hours on Monday.

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העם איתך נגד ההפיכה השלטונית של היועמ"שית 🇮🇱❤️ pic.twitter.com/90UEGu2Pxu

— איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) December 2, 2024

Yaakobi is suspected of using his influence to advance the main suspect within the ranks of the police and is accused of obstructing an investigation and breach of trust in the same case, most of which remains under a gag order.

DIPI said Yaakobi’s interrogation came in the wake of an undercover operation.

“This is a case that is wide-ranging and includes other units concerning sensitive issues,” DIPI stated.

Ben Gvir called the Shabas chief “a dedicated fighter for the State of Israel who won medals of excellence and exemplary for his work [exemplary work] when he rescued people under fire. He served as an outstanding district commander, and we were privileged to work together when he was my security secretary.”

“I am aware that the AG did not like the changes and the policies he implemented, but in a democratic country there is no place for fabricating cases against those whose views and the policies are not to her liking,” Ben Gvir said, adding that Yaakobi would continue to have his full backing.

Among several other officers, Police Commissioner Daniel Levy provided his testimony to the DIPI on Monday, according to Israeli media reports.

Levy is not a suspect in the case and was appointed by Ben Gvir earlier this year.

Speaking with Channel 12, Levy said he hopes the suspects “come out clean” but if not, vowed to be “the first to kick them out of the organization.”

As in the similar case against Eli Feldstein, suspected of leaking information to the prime minister, right-wing politicians sharply criticized the investigation as politically motivated, while also condemning the harsh methods of the suspects’ detention.

“This is a political investigation on steroids. Arresting a very senior person as he is driving - this is something unprecedented. For something like this, arresting a senior person in a way that endangers lives?” said Likud Knesset Member Moshe Saada, who served as the deputy head of DIPI before entering politics.

“The case of Feldstein's arrest pales in comparison to this case,” Saada added.

Israeli Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli (Likud party) said this was “a very serious incident. The unnecessarily violent arrest of an Israeli police officer, like the violent arrest of [another suspect], could have easily ended in friendly fire and bloodshed.”

“In both cases, it is clear to anyone with a reasonable mind that a phone call would have been enough to bring them under investigation, this is negligent and irresponsible conduct.”

The new scandal comes amid a deepening conflict between the government and the attorney general, its legal advisor and head of the state’s prosecution apparatus.

Baharav-Miara publicly opposed numerous measures in the government’s planned judicial reform. Coalition members have called to fire her several times in recent years, accusing her of hampering the rule of the elected government.

Last week, Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi said that 14 ministers had signed a document demanding the government fire the attorney general.

The letter accused Baharav-Miara of having “become an Achilles’ heel that prevents the government from acting according to its policies and realizing the wishes of its voters. This is an antidemocratic trampling of the principle of the rule of the people as it was expressed in the last election, and it is a clear recipe to paralyze the government’s actions.”