Israel Police Commissioner Daniel Levy and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara heavily criticized National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir in court filings on Tuesday over the far-right minister’s stymieing the promotion of a police officer involved in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trial.

The filings were included in a petition to the Jerusalem District Court filed by Supt. Rinat Saban, a high-ranking officer in the Police Investigations and Intelligence Division who testified against Netanyahu in court earlier this year.

Ben Gvir has, for months, been blocking Saban’s promotion to the rank of chief superintendent, despite having signed off on it in December 2024 conditional on her completing the police command and staff course, which she did in April 2025 — a month after testifying against the premier in court.

In the court filings submitted alongside Saban’s petition, the police chief argued that Ben Gvir’s refusal to promote the superintendent “could sow fear among police officers who testify in criminal investigations.”

This, the petition stated, could “discourage dedicated police officers from fulfilling their duties in investigating public figures or government corruption, as this may lead the political leadership to block their promotions.”

Levy also requested that the court grant him permission to go over Ben Gvir’s head and promote Saban, should the ultranationalist minister refuse a potential court........

© The Times of Israel