The Israeli Supreme Court began hearing a petition on Wednesday to remove National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir from office, following allegations of his interference in the police force.
اضافة اعلان
According to Al Jazeera Net, the judges decided to hold the session behind closed doors—without a public audience—while broadcasting the deliberations live, citing concerns over potential disruptions inside the courtroom.
Protests and Defiance
Prior to the deliberations, dozens of Ben-Gvir’s supporters gathered outside the court, carrying banners reading: "Time to tell the Supreme Court: Enough" and "End the Judicial Dictatorship."
Ben-Gvir spoke to his supporters outside the court, stating: "Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara claims that I am changing policy and the police, and that I interfere in appointments to implement my policy. She is right." He added, "More than half a million voters chose us to bring real change. The Supreme Court has no authority to dismiss me, and there will be no coup."
Issuing a warning to the court, he said: "Do not drag Israel into a constitutional crisis, division, or polarization. Democracy will not fall; the legal dictatorship will."
Government Response
Justice Minister Yariv Levin, from the ruling Likud party, declared that any court decision to dismiss Ben-Gvir would not be implemented. In a statement, Levin described the hearing as "unlawful," asserting that the power to appoint or dismiss a minister is legally vested in the Prime Minister, not the court.
Netanyahu’s Objections
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to the court's request last Sunday to clarify why he had not dismissed Ben-Gvir, saying: "You are trying to dismiss a minister unconstitutionally; you have no authority to do so." He argued that accepting the petitions would lead to judicial interference in political affairs without a legal basis.
Background on the Petitions
In January, the Attorney General requested the Supreme Court to compel Netanyahu to dismiss Ben-Gvir for "misuse of office," alleging he illegally influences police activity, particularly in sensitive law enforcement and investigative matters.
Conversely, the government argued in December that the petitions—filed by opposition organizations, including the "Movement for Quality Government"—are an illegal attempt to remove a minister based on his political rhetoric and positions.
