AG asks High Court to reject petition against Ben Gvir due to parallel investigation

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara has asked the High Court of Justice to reject a petition that accuses National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir of handing out gun licenses in violation of regulations.

Baharav-Miara says the issue must not be discussed in court while a criminal probe is ongoing against Israel Avisar, the ministry’s Firearm Licensing Department director, for fear of the proceedings being used to disrupt that investigation.

The attorney general — who also serves as legal adviser to the government and would normally represent a government minister in proceedings against them — adds that she cannot at this time approve Ben Gvir’s request for private counsel since the ongoing investigation has thus far prevented the gathering of professional and legal opinions on the petition’s subject matter.

Ben Gvir and Baharav-Miara have sparred numerous times since the current government was formed.