Ben-Gvir petitions court over police force against Orthodox demonstrators
On Monday, Israeli National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir filed an urgent petition with the High Court of Justice, accusing Police Danny Levy of ordering an escalated use of force against Orthodox demonstrators before protests even began. According to the legal filing, the police chief stated he wanted to “see blood flow” during the demonstrations.
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Key Clinical Takeaways:
- National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir filed an urgent petition in the High Court of Justice on Monday against Police Danny Levy.
- The legal filing alleges that the police chief ordered an intensified use of force and stated an intention to “see blood flow” prior to Orthodox demonstrations against the arrest of draft refusals.
- The petition also cites alleged chain-of-command violations, unauthorized foreign travel, and inconsistent crowd control policies compared to hostage protests.
The Urgent Petition Filed by Itamar Ben-Gvir
The legal action, submitted by attorney Ze’ev Wolf on behalf of Itamar Ben-Gvir, targets the operational directives issued by Police Danny Levy ahead of demonstrations in Jerusalem, Beit Shemesh, and at the Geha intersection. These protests erupted in response to the arrest of individuals refusing mandatory military service. Video footage circulating from the scenes depicts police officers using batons and stun grenades against the crowds, drawing sharp condemnation from the Orthodox community. In the court filing, Ben-Gvir warns that authorities are dangerously close to an incident where someone could be killed.
Allegations of Pre-Decided Force and Command Breaches
According to the petition, Police Danny Levy directly contacted field officers and regional commanders to mandate the employment of aggressive crowd control measures without waiting to evaluate the specific circumstances of each gathering. Ben-Gvir characterizes these instructions as an unwarranted intervention in the chain of command where the use of force was decided in advance. The National Security Minister accuses the police chief of applying disparate enforcement standards depending on the political affiliation of the demonstrators. The filing points to past protests for hostages where demonstrators blocked major highways, noting that police officers exhibited a distinct level of restraint during those events.
Disputes Over Administrative Oversight and Foreign Travel
Beyond operational disagreements on the streets, the legal challenge details a severe breakdown in administrative relations between the two officials. Ben-Gvir contends that Danny Levy transferred a regional commander without securing the required ministerial approval. The petition also asserts that the police chief bypassed protocol by failing to attend mandatory security meetings and embarking on foreign travel without properly notifying the ministry.