Conflict of interest arrangements revealed: 22 relatives of a police officer serve in the organization
Documents detailing conflict of interest arrangements for senior police officers, obtained by Calcalist following a freedom of information request by the Hatzalah organization, reveal that 22 relatives of Deputy Commander Ronen Ovadia, deputy commander of the Jerusalem District, are employed in the police and Border Police. The documents indicate a widespread phenomenon of employing relatives within the organization, in apparent violation of subordination rules.
Documents detailing conflict of interest arrangements for senior Israel Police officers, obtained by Calcalist in response to a freedom of information request by the Hatzalah organization, reveal an unprecedented picture of employing relatives within the organization. The leader is Deputy Commander Ronen Ovadia, deputy commander of the Jerusalem District, who according to his affidavit has 22 of his relatives employed in the police and Border Police, as of December 2024. Among his relatives: five of his children, two sons-in-law, his sister, two nephews, a brother-in-law, and eight cousins. The documents reveal that the placement of some family members under his command was considered a "tangle" in the Jerusalem area. The police committed to transferring his two sons-in-law, who served as officers in the area, to positions outside the district. A similar phenomenon is also evident in the Border Police: Deputy Commander Golan Sharoni declared 10 relatives in the organization, and Deputy Commander Niso Gueta declared his son and nephew serving as mandatory police officers. In total, nearly 80 relatives of 21 senior officers were reported. The documents also reveal sensitive interfaces with the private sector, such as the personal representation of retired Deputy Commander Dado Zamir by a private law firm during his tenure as head of the claims division. The Israel Police stated that employment is conducted transparently and in accordance with orders, and that the organization is proud of its officers and their families.