Jerusalem, 4 February, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s High Court of Justice issued a rare conditional order requiring Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to explain why he has not dismissed National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, a controversial far-right politician accused of interfering in police work and violating legal restrictions on his role. The order, released on Wednesday, escalates tensions between Israel’s judiciary and government.
The High Court ordered Netanyahu to respond by March 10, ahead of hearings scheduled for March 24, in which an expanded panel of nine justices — nearly a full majority of the Supreme Court — will consider petitions demanding Ben-Gvir’s removal.
“After reviewing the written submissions from the parties, due to the lack of a response, we have found it necessary to order a conditional order addressed to the Prime Minister, ordering him to come and give reasons why he will not order the transfer of the respondent from his position as Minister of National Security,” the court wrote.
The petitions allege that Ben-Gvir has repeatedly overstepped his authority, improperly directing police operations and influencing investigations for political purposes. Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara has repeatedly warned that Ben-Gvir’s actions threaten the independence of the police and undermine democratic norms. In a January filing, she said Ben-Gvir “is abusing his position to improperly influence the activities of the Israel Police in the most sensitive areas of law enforcement and investigations and is violating basic democratic principles.”
Ben-Gvir, a polarizing figure whose policies have drawn criticism from both domestic and international observers, responded on social media with defiance. “You have no authority. There will be no coup,” he tweeted.
The situation has drawn sharp reactions from civil society groups and opposition figures.
Petitioners from the “Awake Mother” movement accused the government of endangering Israel’s security. “Everyone understands, including the Attorney General and the High Court, that we have reached the limit of our capabilities—Ben-Gvir is endangering the State of israel and its security. It is impossible to ignore the danger that Ben-Gvir’s continued tenure in security positions and the Prime Minister who refuses to fire him are, in effect, selling Israel into the hands of extremists,” the group said. They added: “Every day that Ben-Gvir continues to serve as Minister of National Security and sit in the cabinet is a day that the security of IDF soldiers and the entire country is at risk.”
Members of the opposition also condemned Netanyahu’s handling of the issue. MK Rabbi Gilad Kariv said, “In a reformed and prosperous state, Netanyahu would have personally fired a failed and incompetent minister who is responsible for the collapse of personal security, in homes, on the streets and on the roads. But with Netanyahu, cynical political considerations prevail over any national considerations.”
Efforts to avoid court intervention had previously failed. In April last year, Ben-Gvir and the Attorney General reached a compromise agreement intended to limit his involvement in operational police matters, including restrictions on attending protests and speaking with officers. According to Baharav-Miara, Ben-Gvir repeatedly violated those restrictions, prompting the petitions that brought the matter before the High Court.
The government has pushed back against what coalition leaders call an attempted judicial “coup,” suggesting that the court is overstepping its authority. In a letter to Netanyahu three weeks ago, coalition figures attacked the Attorney General for pressing the case and vowed to defend Ben-Gvir, calling any attempt to remove him “baseless.”
Ben-Gvir leads the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, which holds six of the Knesset’s 120 seats.
Related Topics
