A-G Baharav-Miara tells Netanyahu that Ben-Gvir could be ousted over police interference

The attorney general argued that Ben-Gvir’s continued interference in internal affairs constitutes a violation of the independence of the Israeli police.

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s continued political interference in police operations threatens the fundamental principle of police independence, which could lead to his ouster.

In a letter to Netanyahu on Tuesday, Baharav-Miara reminded him that “in April 2025, following discussions held with you and the minister, a position paper regarding the interface between the Minister of National Security and the Israel Police was submitted to the court.”

This document, she stressed, was tabled “with the consent of the Minister” and included guarantees aimed at “reducing, as much as possible and immediately, fears of harming police operations and the rule of law”. These principles, she added, are intended to protect police from inappropriate political influence and “came into force immediately”.

To formalize these guarantees, an interministerial team was formed and recently completed its work. However, Baharav-Miara wrote, “to date, the Ministry of National Security has not yet responded” to the finalized regulations.

Despite the agreed framework, the attorney general claimed that Ben-Gvir continues to rape him. She said he had issued a protest policy document and was interfering in police investigations, including those involving officers, civilians and civil servants, violating principles set out by the High Court “on a frequent basis”.

According to her, her actions are motivated by “the interests and political positions of the minister” and transmit to law enforcement “a clear message” about the desired results.

She said “the law and agreed principles are one thing, and the reality on the ground is another,” asserting that the minister is violating legal commitments and court decisions. According to her, these repeated interferences make the protection of police independence a “dead letter”.

As an example, she cited her public support for senior officers under investigation. In the case of Cmdr. Avishai Moalem, Ben-Gvir wrote that he “suffered persecution at the hands of the Shin Bet. I believe in his innocence and am certain that he will be promoted to his rank, as befits a man who acted with integrity and dedication.”

In response to the indictment filed against Deputy Commissioner Kobi Yaakobi, Ben-Gvir declared: “I declare clearly and firmly: I give my full support to Deputy Commissioner Kobi Yaakobi, who will of course remain in his position, and will continue to exercise it as he has done so far, with determination, professionalism and without favoritism, despite the displeasure of the Attorney General and his criminal behavior.

Ben-Gvir’s actions send ‘a frightening message’

She further accused the minister of inappropriate involvement in police appointments, referring to the case of Chief Inspector Rinat Saban. Although Ben-Gvir initially approved her promotion, he later refused to sign it, allegedly because she had testified at Netanyahu’s criminal trial and in a separate criminal case involving Netanyahu associates. Baharav-Miara called it an “illegal decision,” taken against the advice of senior police officials. She said the move sends a chilling message to law enforcement officers handling politically sensitive cases. Since the issue directly involves Netanyahu, she added, additional details will emerge in the state court’s response.

She argued that Ben-Gvir’s conduct resembles that of a “super-commissioner,” citing his involvement in field operations, his direct communication with civilians during police activities, and his political messages that blur the line between law enforcement and political influence. These actions, she said, create an inappropriate nexus between police authority and political interest.

Baharav-Miara also warned that the evidentiary basis on which the High Court approved Ben-Gvir’s ministerial appointment “has fundamentally changed” and that the legal foundations of the decision have been undermined. With the failure of attempts to put in place effective safeguards, she concluded, “it is no longer possible to protect police independence” against persistent political interference. The agreed principles, she added, “do not address his repeated illegal conduct.”

Accordingly, she argued, the allegations raised in the current motions, such as the request for a conditional order, have strong legal and factual grounds, due to “the seriousness of the harm caused to the fundamental principles of police power in a democratic state.”

Baharav-Miara told Netanyahu that his response was required regarding the issues raised in the letter, including “all events that occurred before MK Ben-Gvir’s appointment as minister and during the two periods of his mandate,” before finalizing his position on the petitions.

Ben-Gvir’s response

Ben-Gvir issued a strong response, saying: “Gali Baharav-Miara is a criminal who has obstructed investigations in cases in which the High Court has found that she has a conflict of interest. She fabricates cases against elected officials, civil servants and high-ranking officials, openly seeks to carry out a coup against a democratically elected government, overturn laws, derail decisions and thwart appointments, and now, the pinnacle, an attempt to fire elected officials. I will not rest and remain silent until his actions are investigated, Israel will not become a mafia state.