Shut Down the New Incitement Unit
- ACRI
- Mar 26
- 1 min read
ACRI filed a petition with the Supreme Court on March 26, 2026, requesting that it order the police to shut down the new Incitement Unit and to return the enforcement authority over speech-related offenses to the national headquarters of the police.
The petition argues that for decades, the investigation and enforcement of the criminal prohibition on expressions, including incitement to terrorism, were carried out through an institutional process designed to safeguard freedom of expression, or at the very least to minimize harm to it and prevent a chilling effect. Recently, however, there has been a major shift in the way the police investigate speech-related offenses, and Minister Ben Gvir has ordered the transfer of authority from the Investigations Unit to the newly established Incitement Unit that was created with his involvement. Media reports also indicate that the appointment of the head of the unit was made with Ben Gvir’s direct involvement, raising concerns that the appointment was driven by political and other inappropriate considerations.
The petition argues that this move harms freedom of expression, as well as the rights to due process, liberty, and dignity. Also worth noting is that Udi Ronen, the new head of the new Incitement Unit, instructed police officers to provide him with the names of “known” individuals in order to monitor their online statements for the purpose of “bringing them down.”
HCJ 68266-03-26 Association for Civil Rights in Israel v. Chief of Police Daniel Levy, Commissioner of the Israel Police
Attorney: Hagar Shechter
The petition, March 26, 2026 (Heb)
