Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara informed the High Court that efforts to reach an agreement with National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir have failed, claiming (without a trace of irony) that his conduct in his position overseeing the police is politically motivated and undermines the independence of the police.

In a submission filed with the Court regarding a court decision from April, the attorney general argued that “significant gaps remain” and that “Ben Gvir’s conduct continues at all times.”

One of the “examples” she cited was Ben Gvir’s conduct following the brutal violence and humiliation police officers perpetrated against Chareidi protesters at the entrance to Bnei Brak last month. Following the incident, Ben Gvir publicly criticized the police’s conduct, ordered an urgent discussion on the matter, and called to ensure that stun grenades would be used only in exceptional cases and in accordance with police procedures.

Ben Gvir later sent a sharply worded letter to Israel Police chief Danny Levy demanding that he review the conduct of the police at the protest, including the commander of the Bnei Brak–Ramat Gan police station, who was filmed deliberately ripping off a protester’s pants.

According to Baharav-Miara, Ben Gvir’s conduct conveyed “a problematic message to police officers.”

She therefore called on the High Court to intervene, writing that “there is no alternative but judicial intervention to protect the independence of the police and human rights.”

Ben Gvir responded to the attorney general’s submission by stating: “Gali will keep trying to bring down the right-wing government, and we’ll keep working—and, with Hashem’s help, we’ll win!”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)