Netanyahu accuses attorney general of ‘unacceptable’ conduct after she asks court to hear petitions against Ben Gvir

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accuses Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara of serious procedural failings after she seemingly sided with petitioners to the High Court of Justice calling for National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir to be removed from office earlier this month.

In a submission to the High Court, Netanyahu, through his attorneys, says Baharav-Miara failed to update him as to her newly adopted position that Ben Gvir could not remain in office, arguing that as the only official with authority to fire a minister, the attorney general should have spoken to the prime minister about her concerns instead of letting him find out through reading her submission to the court.

Netanyahu also insists that the court has no authority to order Ben Gvir to be removed from office, claiming such authority lies only with the prime minister and that if there are constitutional problems with decisions by a minister, they can be reviewed individually by the court.

“The conduct of the attorney general is unacceptable,” write Netanyahu’s lawyers, and lambast Baharav-Miara for asking the court to hold an urgent hearing over the petitions for Ben Gvir’s dismissal without speaking first with the prime minister.

“It is being requested in this case that the attorney general [be able to] limit the prime minister’s discretion over firing a minister, even though the Basic Law does not even hint about granting any authority in this matter to the attorney general,” Netanyahu’s lawyers continue regarding the substance of the petition.

They also asserted that there was “no basis” to the petitioners’ claims that the remedy for decisions and actions taken by Ben Gvir in office — which the petitioners argue have undermined the independence of the police — is having the High Court order him removed from office.