Israel’s Attorney General to Demand Netanyahu Remove National Security Minister Ben-Gvir from Office

Political tensions in Israel are coming to a head as the country’s Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara reportedly plans to inform Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he will need to fire Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir unless he ceases what Baharav-Miara calls illegal meddling in police affairs. Israel’s Channel 13 News reported that she would issue such an order unless Ben-Gvir changes his ways.

This includes Ben-Gvir’s having in the past taken personal charge over police responses to anti-government protests, a move the political opposition in Israel charged was an example of undemocratic practices used in dictatorial nations.

There has been widespread criticism in Israel of Itamar Ben-Gvir since he assumed office almost two years ago over what many feel has been an abuse of office on his part. However, it is not clear if Netanyahu will obey any such order from the Attorney General since his government has already been on record as saying that she has no such powers.

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Channel 13 reported that Baharav-Miara was supposed to submit the state’s response on Sunday to the High Court regarding petitions calling for Ben-Gvir’s dismissal. However, she requested a seven-day extension to complete her response and carry out additional procedures.

The Attorney General and senior legal officials believe Ben-Gvir is violating the law and overstepping his authority as National Security Minister. This stems from his interference in police operations and his practice of issuing various directives that contradict legal requirements, despite receiving multiple warnings about such behavior.

Israel’s Ombudsman is expected to join the Attorney General in a petition to the government that would present evidence they say they gathered on Itamar Ben-Gvir’s violations of the law.

Itamar Ben-Gvir criticized the Attorney General for “leaking” this to Channel 13.

“The Attorney General’s leak to News 13 spokeswoman Baruch Kara, according to which she will ‘oblige’ the Prime Minister to fire me, shows what was clear: News 13 and the Attorney General are working together to overthrow the right-wing government, and after failing at the ballot box – they are working to do this through investigations Against the Prime Minister, investigations against me, and inviting petitions to the High Court with a position known in advance,” he said in a tweet.
“The Attorney General and the left-wing media are no longer trying to hide their mafia methods – I call on the prime minister again to remove the ombudsman who works against the government from her position,” added Ben-Gvir.

The Netanyahu government has maintained that since the attorney general of Israel’s official title in Hebrew is “Legal Advisor” to the government then she is merely that – an advisor who can only make suggestions and offer legal opinions. This was one of the main points of Benjamin Netanyahu’s governments judicial reform plan that it was promoting in the Knesset before the October 7 Hamas terror massacre in 2023. However, since then the war against Hamas in Gaza forced the government to sideline much of its domestic agenda.