Israeli government asks supreme court to reject calls to dismiss Ben Gvir

The Israeli government has asked the Supreme Court to reject petitions calling on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to dismiss National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.

According to Israel’s Channel 14, the government has submitted its formal response to the court regarding petitions demanding Ben Gvir’s removal from office.

In its response, the Netanyahu government said that “the fate of the petitions is immediate rejection due to the absence of any legal basis that would justify exceptional and extreme intervention in the highest constitutional act, namely the formation of an elected government”. It added that the request violates the principle of separation of powers, the foundations of good governance, as well as the law and judicial precedent.

The government also stated: “The honourable court should not accept petitions that seek to create a precedent of judicial intervention in determining government ministers due to ideological opposition to the policies promoted by the minister.”

The petitions come amid growing legal and political criticism of Ben Gvir’s conduct, particularly over his controversial statements and policies, his interference in police work, and accusations of incitement and undermining the rule of law.

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