Chief Avshalom Peled, acting commissioner and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's nominee for the position of permanent commissioner, announced today (Monday) that he has decided to withdraw his candidacy.
Police sources said that "Feld realized that he would not be able to pass the senior appointments committee and therefore withdrew his candidacy.".
Minister Ben Gvir said: "I have now received the announcement from the Deputy Commissioner, Commissioner Avshalom (Abshai) Peled, about the withdrawal of his candidacy for the position of Commissioner-General of the Police." According to him, "From the first moment, the Legal Advisor to the Government and the Committee for Senior Appointments were looking for Commissioner Peled, because the one who chose him for the position of Commissioner was Minister Ben Gvir. Commissioner Peled is free from any blemish, and when he was promoted in the past in his positions in the police, nothing was alleged against him.".
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He emphasized: "This is what a targeted thwarting of a candidate for the position of Commissioner looks like, by an official who was not elected by anyone, and who has been working to hinder my steps from the first day I hold the position.".
Ben Gvir added: "I would like to thank Chief Peled for such significant service to the people of Israel. Chief Peled served the State of Israel for 40 years, and the people of Israel owe him a lot. I thank Chief Peled for responding to my request to submit his candidacy for police commissioner and wish him success in the future.".
Chief Petty Officer Peled said: "I have dedicated over forty years of my life to public service, in significant roles at the core of the Israel Police's operations and faced complex and significant challenges, from the role of commander of special units, station commander, area commander, to the role of Deputy Inspector General and Deputy Commissioner of Police, with full dedication and a deep sense of mission. I have always seen myself as an integral part of the organization.
""This decision is not easy for me, but after consultation and deep thought, I have come to the conclusion that this is the right and most appropriate step for me and for the organization under the circumstances. Despite the difficult decision, I will continue to lead the Israel Police and serve it faithfully until a permanent Commissioner is appointed. I will pass the baton in an orderly and responsible manner, while fully cooperating with the system. I would like to thank you once again for the opportunity given to me. I wish the Israel Police great success in the future, and I am at your disposal at any time to assist in any way possible.".
Ben Gvir later announced that he had decided to submit to the committee for senior appointments the candidacy of the commander of the Coastal District, Superintendent Daniel (Danny) Levy - who is considered close to him.
Levy joined the police in 1985 and served as a police officer in the Yiftach area, commander of a neighborhood station in the Tel Aviv district, commander of the Lev station in Tel Aviv, and an operations officer in the Tel Aviv district.
Later, Levy served as commander of the Yiftach region, commander of the Yarkon region, deputy commander of the Jerusalem district, and currently serves as commander of the Hof district. Levy holds a bachelor's degree in general studies and a master's degree in social sciences.
Superintendent Peled took up his position as acting commissioner about a week and a half ago, upon the end of the term of Major General Kobi Shabtai. In 2015, Peled was investigated by the Police Investigations Department on suspicion of bribery with the then head of the Yehuda Headquarters Council. The case was closed, but the Police Investigations Department recommended that he not be promoted to the rank of superintendent. Despite this, the then commissioner chose to promote him.
Last week, the Committee for Senior Appointments convened for another discussion of Peled's candidacy for the position of Commissioner. The committee decided to hold another discussion on the subject, after completing an opinion from the Legal Advisor to the Government.
