Israel’s police chief Danny Levy blocked National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s attempts to bypass the Supreme Court and influence the investigation into the former Military Advocate General Yifar Tomer-Yerushalmi, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The sources said that Ben-Gvir demanded the police chief transfer investigation materials to judicial ombudsman Asher Kula, a retired judge, who was appointed by Justice Minister Yariv Levin to oversee the investigation – an appointment which was contested by top legal officials, including Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara.
The sources added that during the discussion between the two, Ben-Gvir said, “I am not interfering in the investigation, but the decision about who supervises and accompanies it is entirely the government’s. We are not a banana republic – Minister Levin has decided, and you must comply.”
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Judge Asher Kula clarified later Sunday that he was suspending his involvement in the investigation until the Supreme Court reaches a final decision on the matter.
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“I have not assumed any authority contrary to the law,” Kula wrote in response to petitions challenging his appointment. “I lawfully received a letter of appointment from the Justice Minister, and acted, in a completely minor matter, in accordance with the letter.”
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Kula also addressed claims that he is in a conflict of interest, given that his son, Netanel Kula, serves as the chief military censor. “The Military Censorship deals with the publication of the video itself, in terms of potential harm to state security,” he explained, “whereas the role assigned to me concerns the investigation of the leak and the alleged obstruction of justice, which is separate from its publication in the media.”
Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, the Israeli army’s former chief legal officer, was evacuated to a hospital in Tel Aviv on Sunday after her family called for help from her residence in central Israel.
Concerns were raised that the former IDF general attempted to self-harm by swallowing sleeping pills, a source said. She was found conscious and is not in a life-threatening condition. She is expected to be evaluated by a psychiatrist.
Tomer-Yerushalmi is currently under house arrest after she was arrested last week over the leak of a video showing Israeli soldiers abusing a Palestinian detainee at an Israeli detention facility.
Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara said on Thursday that she will no longer be involved in matters concerning the investigation of the leak of the video of the alleged abuse at the Sde Teiman detention center, but that Justice Minister Yariv Levin had no right to independently appoint someone to head the investigation.
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Justice Minister Yariv Levin announced on Tuesday that Israel’s State Ombudsman for Judges, Asher Kula, has agreed to handle the investigation into the former IDF chief legal officer instead of the Attorney General.
Kula stated on Tuesday that he is willing to take on the role “if it is decided to assign it to me, subject to all applicable law.” He emphasized that he is not expressing any opinion “regarding the disqualification of the Attorney General or the minister’s authority.”
After Levin announced his appointment, Kula asked the police to provide him with the materials from the investigation into the leak of a video in the Sde Teiman prisoner abuse case. Kula said he was authorized to do so in light of the letter of appointment Levin issued, and no reason existed to wait for a ruling by the High Court of Justice.
On Friday, after a consultation between senior police commanders, Police Chief Danny Levy decided not to honor Kula’s request until the High Court ruled on the issue.
A few hours later, after Kula realized the police had turned down his request for the material, he issued an official statement saying he would “act only in accordance with the instructions of the High Court of Justice,” if such are issued.
