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National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, on Wednesday. Credit: Naama Grynbaum
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, on Wednesday. Credit: Naama Grynbaum
Israel’s High Court of Justice is discussing petitions seeking to compel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to remove Itamar Ben-Gvir from his position as national security minister, citing alleged interference in police work and harm to democratic norms.
Four groups of citizens filed the petitions against Netanyahu, Ben-Gvir and the government. Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara supports the petitioners, who argue that the minister’s removal is required due to what they describe as systematic, ongoing violations of police independence and the transformation of the police from a law-enforcement body into a political instrument.
Ahead of the hearing, Ben-Gvir told reporters outside the court that Baharav-Miara is correct in claiming he is “reshaping the police.”
“She says I interfere in appointments, that I’ve already appointed more than 1,100 officers to implement my policy, and she’s right. She says I supported ‘Force 100,’ and she’s right about that too,” he said, referring to the reservists who were previously accused of sexually abusing a Palestinian detainee in the Sde Teiman detention facility. The charges against the reservists were dropped last month.”