Police officer receives promotion after Ben Gvir drops opposition

Ruti Hauslich, who the far-right minister claimed misled a Knesset committee, is granted new rank of commander by the police commissioner

After a legal battle, the Israel Police on Wednesday promoted an officer whose rise in rank was held up since last summer by National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.

Ruti Hauslich was granted her new rank of commander by Israel Police Commissioner Danny Levy, who cited her “capabilities in past roles” and hailed her as a “worthy and principled officer.”

The promotion came after Ben Gvir agreed last month to sign off on promoting Hauslich, reversing course after a Jerusalem District Court Judge urged him to reevaluate his decision during a hearing on her petition against him.

Hauslich, who deals with incitement-related probes in police’s investigations and intelligence division, was the second female police detective whose promotion Ben Gvir refused to approve, bucking the counsel of senior brass.

The far-right minister had claimed Hauslich misled a Knesset committee during a discussion on incitement-related investigations, for not conveying the position of the Jerusalem District police during testimony she gave before lawmakers.

However, Hauslich’s lawyer, whose argument was accepted by the judge, contended that she did what was expected of her at the meeting by presenting the stance of the branch she serves in, the investigations and intelligence division, which is responsible for handling incitement probes.

The lawyer further claimed that Ben Gvir’s stonewalling was part of a series of larger “struggles between the minister and certain officials in the investigations and intelligence division.”

In March, the Jerusalem District Court ordered Ben Gvir to sign off the promotion of Ch. Supt. Rinat Saban, who had given testimony in the graft trial of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The judge in the case said Ben Gvir’s refusal was likely motivated by “extraneous considerations.”

Last month, the High Court of Justice told Ben Gvir, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the attorney general to reach an agreement to curb any undue influence by Ben Gvir on police work.