'Israel's' Attorney General pressures Netanyahu to fire Ben-Gvir
3 Min Read
The attorney general and the State Attorney's Office contends that Ben-Gvir continues to exert undue pressure on police forces, violating court orders and raising constitutional concerns.
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Israeli police minister Itamar Ben-Gvir is on hand for a speech by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Knesset in occupied al-Quds, Monday, June 14, 2021. (AP)
Israeli news outlets on Monday reported that Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara is set to pressure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to dismiss Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir over repeated violations of legal boundaries in his role.
According to Channel 13 and other reports, Baharav-Miara will present Netanyahu with a list of Ben-Gvir's illegal actions, so that he would either change his conduct to avoid a court ruling that could destabilize Netanyahu's coalition, or face dismissal.
The legal pressures on Ben-Gvir stem from accusations that he overstepped his authority by intervening in police operations, particularly regarding protests opposing Netanyahu's controversial judicial overhaul.
In March, the High Court of Justice ordered Ben-Gvir to stop issuing operational directives to the police about managing demonstrations, and further restricted his influence over police actions in January 2024.
Despite this, the attorney general and the State Attorney's Office contend that Ben-Gvir continued to exert undue pressure on police forces, violating court orders and raising constitutional concerns.
Read more: Ben-Gvir says Palestinians 'should be shot in the head'
In reaction to the reports, Ben Gvir called for Baharav-Miara's dismissal, alleging that she, along with Channel 13, is attempting to undermine the current leadership.
He renewed his appeal to Netanyahu to remove the attorney general, accusing her of actively opposing the coalition's policies.
Demotion of Amichai Eshed
Adding to the controversy, Channel 13 aired an investigative report detailing Ben-Gvir's misconduct, including politically motivated moves such as the controversial transfer of Tel Aviv police chief Amichai Eshed.
Eshed, who resigned in 2023 amid widespread unrest, claimed he was effectively demoted due to political pressures linked to Ben-Gvir's desire for stricter action against protesters.
Haaretz also revealed that the push for Eshed's transfer was initiated by Ben-Gvir's wife, Ayala, and endorsed by his chief of staff, Chanamel Dorfman, both of whom reportedly participated in strategizing the move due to Eshed's refusal to use more forceful tactics during the protests.
The recent revelations have sparked intense public debate, with critics alleging that Ben-Gvir's approach undermines the rule of law and escalates divisions within the government.
Baharav-Miara, meanwhile, has requested a week's extension to file the government's formal response to the High Court, reportedly to exhaust all other avenues before calling for Ben-Gvir's official removal.
Read more: UK mulling sanctions against Israeli ministers: Starmer
