Ben-Gvir 'cannot be trusted, threat to Israeli security': Yair Lapid

By Al Mayadeen English
4 Mar 2024 12:27
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Following a series of leaks, extremist Ben-Gvir has been sidelined and heavily criticized by Israeli officials and Cabinet members.

Former Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid chairs the weekly cabinet meeting, in occupied al-Quds, Sunday, September 11, 2022. (AP)

Head of the Israeli opposition, Yair Lapid, described Police Minister and extremist Itamar Ben-Gvir as a threat to the occupation's security.

Responding to reports stating that Ben-Gvir leaked sensitive governmental information, Lapid emphasized, "Ben-Gvir cannot be trusted with classified information, around Israeli intelligence, or in the war cabinet."

Slamming Benjamin Netanyahu, Lapid said, "Any sane Prime Minister would have fired him."

Ben-Gvir had been banned from attending security briefings after a series of leaks of sensitive documents. According to The Telegraph, Ben-Gvir has been accused of information leaks and violating the same security principles he was appointed to implement and is being increasingly sidelined by the War Cabinet.

The Telegraph quoted a senior Israeli intelligence source as saying, “The biggest threat to Israel from within is Ben Gvir. He acts within his own rules and tries to ignore everyone around him, despite his lack of any background in national security and defense issues.”

Ben-Gvir and Shin Bet

Last month, leaders of the Shin Bet refused to meet with Ben-Gvir following repeated clashes in weekly security meetings that ultimately obstructed their relations.

The Shin Bet accused the minister of leaking information and violating protocol by bringing cell phones to meetings.

Ben-Gvir currently faces charges of illegally photographing secret attendees at high-level intelligence meetings, according to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.

Ben-Gvir 'illegally intervened in police work'

Itamar Ben-Gvir has faced backlash over accusations of intervening in Israeli "police work", The Times of Israel reported in early January.

Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara told the Israeli High Court that Ben-Gvir "wrongfully and illegally intervened in police work" related to the weekly demonstrations held by Israelis in protest of governmental decisions spearheaded by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Although under Israeli law, Ben-Gvir can set policy regarding the work of occupation police forces, he is not permitted to instruct the force on specific situations.

Several Israeli organizations petitioned the occupation's High Court to prevent Ben-Gvir from instructing occupation police officers on protests in November.

Baharav-Miara said a review of Ben-Gvir's interventions indicated that he "crossed a line" into "forbidden intervention," according to the Israeli media outlet.