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Israel Prime Minister opposes efforts by Attorney-General to sack Ben-Gvir

November 12, 2024 at 5:30 am

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on January 24, 2023 [Saeed Qaq/Anadolu Agency]

Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, sees efforts by Attorney-General, Gali Baharav-Miara, to sack far-right National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, will lead to a “constitutional crisis” in Israel, according to local media on Monday.

“I don’t see a faster way to create a constitutional crisis than trying to remove a minister without an indictment,” Israeli Channel 13 quoted Netanyahu as saying during a Cabinet meeting on Sunday evening, Anadolu Agency reports.

Media reports emerged that Attorney-General, Gali Baharav-Miara, will approach Netanyahu to sack Ben-Gvir for repeatedly violating the law while in office, unless he changes his conduct.

This comes in response to petitions demanding the far-right minister’s sacking at the High Court.

Ben-Gvir, for his part, accused the Attorney-General of seeking to topple the government.

“You can’t just talk all the time. It’s time for action,” Ben-Gvir said. “Today it’s me, tomorrow it’s you – they want to take over the government.”

According to Israeli media, Netanyahu pledged Ben-Gvir not to allow his sacking by the Attorney-General.

Ben-Gvir, who is head of the extremist Jewish Strength Party, is notorious for his anti-Palestinian policies. He repeatedly joined illegal settlers in storming the flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in Occupied East Jerusalem, causing protests from Palestinians.

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