Judge hints court could seek compromise instead of ordering dismissal of Ben Gvir

Justice Noam Solberg hints that the High Court of Justice may attempt to revive a legally binding agreement meant to curb National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s influence over the police, rather than order his dismissal by the prime minister.

The nine judges are currently hearing petitions urging Ben Gvir be sacked over claims he has unlawfully interfered with and politicized law enforcement, mainly by way of stonewalling officers’ promotions and issuing statements against police investigations.

Solberg asks Michael Rabilo, the lawyer representing the government, whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Ben Gvir and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara would be willing to return to negotiations and reach an agreement on curbing the minister’s interference in police decision making.

“The framework of principles was accepted by Minister Ben Gvir and there is a dispute as to whether he violated it. Ben Gvir argued that he did not violate it, and the prime minister accepted his position,” Rabilo responds.

Solberg urges him to “move beyond” the question of who violated the agreement and look to the future. “Is it agreed, from your perspective, to put [the agreement] into practice until the elections?” to which Rabilo responds, “Definitely.”