[47622] Uproar over inviting police officers to Minister Ben-Gvir's birthday
[47622] Uproar over inviting police officers to Minister Ben-Gvir's birthday
Reports of senior police officers being invited to Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's birthday party have sparked sharp criticism from Naftali Bennett, who warned against the politicization of the police.
Uproar over political involvement in the police: Officers were invited to Ben-Gvir's birthday
Political tension regarding the conduct of the senior police echelon has hit the headlines following reports of a private event held by the Minister of National Security. According to Dafna Liel, Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir invited police officers to celebrate his birthday at a villa. The affair sparked an immediate response from former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.
Bennett issued an explicit threat on the matter, as noted in a report by Israel Hayom, clarifying that "officers who act politically will be fired." Dafna Liel emphasized that this is a reiteration of Bennett's position regarding the necessary separation between the political echelon and the professional command of the police.
The reports highlight the public controversy surrounding the interface between the presiding minister and the organization's high command. While Minister Ben-Gvir is perceived as someone seeking to tighten his control over police policy, his critics, led by Bennett, view the participation of officers in such events as crossing a red line that undermines the independence of the organization.