Ben Gvir petitions High Court against AG Baharav-Miara, says he does not trust her

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir appeals to the High Court of Justice to allow him independent counsel in petitions against him and his ministry, heightening tensions with Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara who the ultranationalist minister says he could no longer trust.

Ben Gvir and his ministry are facing several legal motions against his actions as minister and legislation that expanded his power over the police.

In a statement to the High Court, the minister argues that the attorney general’s decision to freeze his move to remove the Tel Aviv District Police commander from his post without consulting with him destroyed his faith in her ability to faithfully represent him in legal proceedings.

This behavior is “unconstitutional, unreasonable, disproportionate, and unfair. It is inappropriate that the respondent [the attorney general] should make such an extraordinary and severe decision without discussing it with me,” writes Ben Gvir.

On Sunday, Baharav-Miara informed Ben Gvir that she could not accept his request for an independent counsel in the legal motions against him until he properly explained which petitions he was referring to and the reasoning for his request.