Khaberni - The Israeli Supreme Court, today, Wednesday, issued an order requiring Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to explain the reasons for not dismissing National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who is accused of undermining police independence.
The court's decision came while considering petitions demanding the dismissal of Ben-Gvir, who has been in office since December 2022, "due to his systematic undermining of police independence, and transforming it from a law enforcement agency into a political police force."
According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, the Supreme Court issued an order requiring Netanyahu to explain the reasons for not dismissing the National Security Minister, stating that this order is "the necessary first step before the court issues an order for Netanyahu to dismiss Ben-Gvir".
In response, the official Israeli Broadcasting Corporation quoted Ben-Gvir telling the court, "You have no authority."
In January, the government's legal advisor Gali Baharav Miara asked the Supreme Court to compel Netanyahu to dismiss Ben-Gvir, due to "his abuse of office."
Miara justified her request because Ben-Gvir "illegally abuses his office, influencing police activities in the most sensitive cases related to law enforcement and investigations." She requested an order "requiring Netanyahu to explain why he has not dismissed the National Security Minister."
In December, the government described the petitions filed by Israeli organizations opposing to demand the dismissal of Ben-Gvir as "an illegal attempt to dismiss a government minister due to his speech and political stances."
Ben-Gvir, leader of the far-right "Jewish Power" party, is one of the most controversial ministers in the Israeli government, facing widespread criticism.
