Allegedly Mixing Police Affairs, Attorney General Asks PM Netanyahu To Review Right-wing Minister Ben Gvir's Position

Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. (Twitter/@itamarbengvir)

Israeli Attorney General on Thursday asked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to re-evaluate the term of office of right-wing National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, citing alleged interference with police matters.

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara sent a letter to PM Netanyahu explaining the events when Ben-Gvir, who was tasked with setting general policies, appeared to provide operational instructions that threaten police apolitical status.

"The combination of alleged inappropriate interventions in police activities and the dependence of police officers on ministers on promotion of their positions, undermines the possibility to ensure police will act based on loyalty to the public and not to political echelons," Baharav-Miara said in a statement. November 15.

There was no immediate comment from the office of Prime Minister Netanyahu.

Meanwhile, Ben-Gvir, who led a small ultra-nationalist party in the Netanyahu coalition, wrote on social media: "The coup attempt by (Jaksa Agung) has begun. The only dismissal that needs to be done is the dismissal of the Attorney General."

Citing The Times of Israel, the two have repeatedly clashed over Ben Gvir's handling of the police, with the attorney general declaring promotions by the right-wing minister "illegal" and ordering police commissioners to stop the dismissal of the main police legal adviser.

Baharav-Miara cited a number of measures by Ben Gvir's intervention in police operations, including calling senior police officials publicly to be reprimanded for his disapproval of handling anti-government protests; stated in the police operating room he came there to ensure police carried out his directives in dealing with protests; and a letter from former police commissioner Kobi Shabtai that Ben Gvir had instructed senior police officials to ignore cabinet orders regarding the protection of humanitarian aid convoys on their trip to Gaza.