Netanyahu requests police monitoring of left-wing activists

Two days before the Knesset elections, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Police Commissioner Danny Levy and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to express concerns regarding the activities of far-left activists. During the meeting, Netanyahu presented videos of a group known as ‘Gideonim,’ which claims its goal is to ‘physically defend the Knesset’ against perceived right-wing threats to democracy. Some members of the group have also vowed to obstruct Netanyahu’s access to his residence.

The meeting has sparked significant political and legal controversy. The Yisrael party, led by Gadi Eisenkot, urged legal advisors to prevent the meeting, arguing it could be used to pressure public officials and undermine public trust in the election results. While the head of the Central Elections Committee refused to block the meeting, they warned that the Prime Minister and National Security Minister do not have the authority to direct the police on how to manage election integrity.

Netanyahu’s office defended the discussion as a necessary measure to address security threats and prepare for potential attempts to disrupt the electoral process. Meanwhile, Ben-Gvir characterized the police preparations as routine.