National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir praised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for giving a 'clear response' to what he called the 'criminal' Attorney General, and said that 'deep state' officials have no authority to dismiss ministers. Ben Gvir added that after the elections, 'we will dismiss the deep state officials.' The statement comes shortly after Netanyahu informed the High Court that he will not fire Ben Gvir.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir on Wednesday praised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for giving a "clear response" to Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, whom he labeled "criminal." In a statement posted on social media shortly after Netanyahu's formal response to the High Court, Ben Gvir said that "deep state" officials have no authority to dismiss ministers, and added: "After the elections, we will dismiss the deep state officials." The remarks came minutes after Netanyahu informed the High Court of Justice that he would not fire Ben Gvir, asserting that the court lacks the authority to order such a dismissal, as The Zioneer reported at 17:06 Jerusalem.
The Zioneer reported at 17:06 Jerusalem that Netanyahu's response to the High Court included multiple legal arguments: first, that the decision is not justiciable; second, that the failure to complete draft procedures between Ben Gvir and the legal counsel does not constitute grounds for removal; and third, that the court has no authority to order the dismissal of a minister. These details were reported by Israeli media outlets including N12, ynet, Yakov Bardugo, and Altman, with the scope of the legal arguments evolving as more reports emerged. The confrontation between Ben Gvir and the Attorney General dates back weeks. On July 20, The Zioneer reported that Baharav-Miara formally petitioned the High Court to dismiss Ben Gvir, citing "significant gaps" and ongoing interference in police independence. Ben Gvir has repeatedly dismissed the proceedings as politically motivated, including calling the Attorney General a "crazy woman," as The Zioneer reported on July 20.
The Zioneer has previously reported on Ben Gvir's broader criticism of the legal establishment. On June 29, Ben Gvir said that no amount of effort by the "deep state" can fabricate criminal cases or topple a sitting government in a democracy. On July 17, he told the Attorney General that the transition government began at the government's swearing-in and reiterated his demand for her dismissal. These statements form part of an ongoing political battle between the coalition and the legal system, with Ben Gvir positioning himself as a target of an alleged "deep state" apparatus.
The High Court has yet to rule on the Attorney General's petition to dismiss Ben Gvir. It remains unclear whether the court will accept Netanyahu's argument that the decision is not justiciable, or whether it will proceed to consider the merits of Baharav-Miara's request. Ben Gvir's vow to oust "deep state" officials after the elections sets the stage for further political confrontation should his coalition retain power.
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