Israel’s attorney general will call on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to fire his National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, for allegedly repeatedly breaking the law during his term in office, Israeli media reported on Sunday.
Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara believes Ben-Gvir, a far-right politician who was previously convicted for links to a terrorist group, had repeatedly violated the law, according to The Times of Israel,.
Baharav-Miara is due to tell Netanyahu that he will have to expel Ben-Gvir from the cabinet or tell him to change his conduct.
Ben-Gvir is accused of interfering with the work of law enforcement agencies, leading the Israeli High Court to issue an injunction to prevent the far-right minister from instructing police on how to deal with anti-government protests.
Baharav-Miara is set to present the PM with a list of rules Ben-Gvir has allegedly broken during his time in office, something that has been described as a “final warning” to the national security minister to change his behaviour or face the axe.
Ben-Gvir, in turn, called for Baharav-Miara to be fired and accused her of colluding with the Israeli media to collapse the right-wing government led by Netanyahu.
It follows a report released by Channel 13 listing laws Ben-Gvir is said to have broken, while Haaretz alleged other acts by the minister targeting the police, including the ousting of Tel Aviv police chief Amichai Eshed, who opposed tough action against anti-government protesters.
It was also revealed by Haaretz that far-right Jewish activist Bentzi Gopstein, who is sanctioned by the US and EU, has been advising Ben-Gvir.
Ben-Gvir was previously convicted for his support of a banned terrorist organisation and racist incitement and was not accepted for the military draft, allegedly due to his extremist links.
During his time as minister he has been behind a series of incendiary statements and actions, including his repeated storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.
His inclusion in the government has reportedly led to friction between the US and Israel.
