Rights10/11/2026

Haaretz Column: Political Influence Weakens the Israel Police

Yonatan Englander's opinion column argues that Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir is not strengthening the police, but weakening it and using it for political purposes. This is the writer's opinion, not a report on a court ruling or a new law.

Key facts

•Writer: Yonatan Englander
•Newspaper: Haaretz
•Publication date: October 11, 2026
•Publication time: 20:28
•There is no legal proceeding or court ruling
•No specific statute is mentioned in the text

What the Writer Argues

According to Englander, Ben-Gvir has succeeded in convincing a significant portion of the public that he supports police officers and prison guards. The writer links this image to the minister's public appearances at crime scenes, his treatment of Palestinian prisoners, and his emphasis on the budgets secured for the ministry.

Criticism of the Minister's Actions

The columnist argues that, in practice, Ben-Gvir's actions have weakened and humiliated the police. He portrays the situation as the subordination of the law enforcement system to the minister's public and political interests. The excerpt provided did not include specific police decisions, official responses, or evidence of particular incidents.

The Publication's Legal Status

The article is not a court ruling, bill, or decision by a government authority. It contains no case number, court name, legal provisions that were applied, or violation of law determined by a court. Therefore, the publication does not establish that the minister bears legal responsibility or that any action has been recognized as unlawful.

What this means for you

For residents of Israel, this column presents a political assessment of the state of the police, but does not in itself change their rights or obligations. Nor does it establish facts with the force of a court ruling or report changes to legislation or police procedures.

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