'Israel's' National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, attends the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, Sunday, Sep 10, 2023.
'Israeli' legal adviser targets Ben Gvir, pressing Netanyahu to consider dismissal
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- Government legal adviser plans Supreme Court move over Ben Gvir’s conduct.
- Petition cites interference in police work and criminal investigations
The 'Israeli' government’s legal adviser, Gali Baharav-Miara, intends to ask the Supreme Court to compel 'Israeli' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to formally consider dismissing National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, according to ‘Israeli’ public broadcaster KAN.
KAN said on Thursday that Baharav-Miara plans to petition the court to issue a judicial order obliging Netanyahu to examine the possibility of Ben Gvir’s removal from office.
Petitions challenge minister’s conduct
The broadcaster said the move comes within the framework of petitions filed against Ben Gvir’s continued tenure as minister.
Read more: Ben-Gvir proposes ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ for Palestinian detainees
Baharav-Miara is expected to argue that the minister’s conduct and his direct interference in police work and criminal investigations “cannot be ignored” and constitute a “serious violation of the independence of law enforcement agencies”, according to KAN.
Netanyahu required to justify decision
KAN reported that the legal adviser has stressed that if Netanyahu decides not to dismiss Ben Gvir, he must provide a clear and detailed legal justification for that decision.
Legal assessments cited by the broadcaster suggest the court may issue a preliminary order in the case, amid what it described as a contradiction between Ben Gvir’s public pledges not to interfere in police work and his actual involvement in investigations and operational decisions.
Possible expanded judicial panel
If the court moves forward with the case, KAN said it is expected to expand the panel of judges reviewing the file, citing its constitutional and political sensitivity.
Read more: Gaza media office reports shocking number of ‘Israeli’ truce violations
At the same time, sources close to Netanyahu said he does not intend to dismiss Ben Gvir at this stage and has rejected Baharav-Miara’s request for a direct meeting.
Ongoing political clash
Baharav-Miara has repeatedly voiced opposition to the policies of Netanyahu’s right-wing government. Several ministers have accused her of exercising her authority based on what they describe as “harmful left-wing views”.
The government previously decided to dismiss her, but the Supreme Court overturned that decision.
KAN said the judicial process is expected to begin with an order requiring the prime minister to formally examine the matter and submit a reasoned position, without imposing a predetermined outcome.
The broadcaster noted that the legal adviser does not have the authority to directly dismiss a minister and that the Supreme Court, in its regular composition, does not usually intervene in such decisions.
Ben Gvir background, Gaza context
Ben Gvir leads the far-right Jewish Power party and has openly boasted about mistreating Palestinian prisoners in ‘Israeli’ jails. He has also repeatedly incited calls to resume genocidal crimes in Gaza.
With US backing, ‘Israel’ launched a war on Gaza on October 8, 2023, killing about 71,000 Palestinians and wounding more than 171,000, most of them women and children.
A ceasefire between Hamas and ‘Israel’ began on October 10, but ‘Israel’ has violated it daily, leading to the killing of 406 Palestinians up to Tuesday.
