Senior Israeli Police and Prison Officials Attend Minister Ben-Gvir's Birthday Party

Senior officers from the Israel Police and Israel Prison Service attended National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's 50th birthday party on May 2, 2026, in Moshav Emunim. The event took place at Villa Space, according to invitations sent to police officers and commanders.

Among the attendees were Jerusalem District Commander Avshalom Peled, Judea and Samaria District Commander Moshe Pinchi, Prison Service Commissioner Kobi Yaakobi, Superintendent Sami Marciano, Central District Commander Amir Cohen, and others. Police Commissioner Danny Levy approved attendance for senior officers from the national general command staff, which includes 27 individuals such as four deputy commissioners and 23 commanders.

The commissioner prohibited attendance by other police officers and commanders, stating in a directive that only national senior command forum members could participate.

' Former prime minister Naftali Bennett stated that public servants who violate their duty of loyalty to the state and exploit their positions in a non-statesmanlike manner would be dismissed immediately. ' Democrats chairman Yair Golan stated that the attendance was a disgrace and that the police commissioner was unfit to command for prioritizing flattery over public security.

MK Naama Lazimi stated that police commanders had learned that loyalty to the minister was more important than their public duty and that such individuals should not remain in their positions. The Abraham Initiatives stated that on a day when murder victims in Arab society exceeded 100 since the start of the year, the minister and police officials should have focused on addressing crime instead of attending the celebration.

The party also included politicians and figures associated with the Otzma Yehudit party, as well as Mordechai David, Yoav Eliasi, and Bentzi Gopstein. Many officers did not receive invitations and had no intention of attending, according to reports. The commissioner's decision allowed attendance by senior figures, noting that their positions would not be affected by the event.