The attorney general of Israel, Gali Baharav-Miara, has sent a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asking him to consider retaining Itamar Ben-Gvir as the country’s national security minister, in light of the far-right minister’s repeated and ongoing interference and involvement in police operational matters and politicization of police promotions.
In her letter, the prosecutor referred to instances where it was obvious that the far-right minister gave operational instructions that threatened the non-political nature of the police.
“The combination of alleged improper interference in police activities and the dependence of police officers on the minister for promotion undermines the ability to ensure that the police act out of loyalty to the public and not to the political echelon,” the attorney general said.
There was no immediate comment from Netanyahu’s office, however, immediate and strong was the reaction from Ben-Gvir, leader of a small ultra-nationalist party in Netanyahu’s coalition, and one of the most extreme members of the government.
“The coup attempt has begun. The only dismissal that should be made is that of the attorney general,” he said in a social media post.
He even threatened the judge, saying he would demand the attorney general’s dismissal, in an interview with Israel National News. The national security minister said he may soon issue an ultimatum to Netanyahu over his ongoing complaints against Bahrav-Miara, with whom he frequently clashes.
“We are approaching the moment when I will have no choice but to issue an ultimatum to Netanyahu,” he said. “It’s either her or me. Only one of us can remain in office. He should have been dismissed a long time ago,” he continued.
In the same interview, the minister said Israel should cut off aid to civilians in the Gaza Strip until the hostages are released.
He said he opposed any form of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip amid the ongoing war with Hamas.
“I believe that as long as we have hostages in Gaza, we should not make any concessions to the Strip, not even to the civilian population,” he said.
He also condemned the “bad decision” taken by the security cabinet earlier this week to boost aid delivery to the Palestinian enclave, saying he was “the only one who voted against the decision.”
