National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on Wednesday attacked the judicial system ahead of a High Court of Justice hearing on petitions to dismiss him, accusing Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara of trying to silence right-wing voters.
“Gali Baharav-Miara wants to take your voice from you,” Ben-Gvir said at a press conference outside the High Court before the hearing began.
“I’m a minister of actions. The only reason we’re here today is that I stood by my word."
Baharav-Miara has argued that Ben-Gvir’s conduct has caused severe harm to the rule of law, equality in enforcement, and the apolitical character of the police, and that the case is built not on one stray outburst but on a series of concrete episodes showing repeated intrusion into professional law-enforcement discretion.
Ben-Gvir defended his actions from the beginning of his tenure as national security minister in 2022, claiming that he was serving those in the Right who voted for him.
“The time has come that whoever voted Right, gets Right, and that's what I did,” he said.
Ben-Gvir calls the hearing undemocratic
“The nation chose the Right, and they will get the Right. And whoever that’s not good for, go to the Knesset elections and vote,” he continued.
He added that Baharav-Miara's claim that he changed the police and interfered in appointments was correct.
“That’s exactly why I was elected. Not to be a potted plant, not to cut ribbons, and not to be a model for the prosecution. I was elected to govern.”
Ben-Gvir called the hearing undemocratic and is expected to launch a new political campaign at the High Court ahead of the elections scheduled to take place no later than October.
Numerous politicians and ministers came to the hearing to show their support for Ben-Gvir. Among those at the hearing were MKs from his Otzma Yehudit Party: Zvika Fogel, Yitzhak Kreuzer, and Limor Son Har-Melech.
Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman (Otzma Yehudit), Development of the Negev and Galilee, and National Resilience Minister Yitzhak Wasserlauf (Otzma Yehudit), also joined.
Women's Advancement Minister, Social Equality Minister May Golan (Likud), and MK Tally Gotliv (Likud) arrived at the hearing in support as well.
Justice Minister Yariv Levin (Likud) released a statement before the hearing began, claiming that it was “contrary to the law” and that the judges’ decision would have no validity
He added that his “friend, Minister Ben-Gvir, will continue to serve in his position, by virtue of the will of the people and the confidence of the Knesset.”
Other coalition members defended Ben-Gvir, claiming that the High Court lacks the authority to dismiss him, including coalition whip Ofir Katz, MK Simcha Rothman (Religious Zionist Party), and the haredi (ultra-Orthodox) Shas Party.
The area surrounding the High Court was filled with dozens of right-wing activists and protesters. Signs were held up reading “putting an end to the judicial dictatorship.”
The hearing is being held before an expanded nine-justice panel and, in an unusual procedural arrangement, is being broadcast live while closed to the general public over concerns about disruptions in the courtroom.
Gotliv, Son Har-Melech, and Silman were removed from the courtroom due to disruptions.
From the opposition, MK Efrat Rayten (The Democrats) came to the hearing, speaking against the coalition’s calls to disobey the High Court.
“The court is the only defender of citizens’ rights in the country. We will strengthen the rule of law and accept the ruling of the High Court," she said.
She also called for Levin to be dismissed in addition to Ben-Gvir, saying that anyone who calls to disobey High Court rulings “does not deserve to remain in office even for one more day.”
MK Gilad Kariv (The Democrats) also arrived at the hearing, where he said that no one should be allowed to intimidate the judges, the petitioners, or the judicial process.
"Israeli citizens want a functioning police force, not a criminal minister," he added.
The case has sharpened into a test of how far a minister may go before political involvement in policing becomes unlawful interference in law enforcement itself.
Petitions filed to the High Court have held that the core claim is that Ben-Gvir has consistently pushed an unlawful agenda.
They argue that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has a duty to stop that process and that his failure to do so is itself an extreme and unreasonable administrative omission.