Itamar Ben Gvir Condemns High Court Dismissal Petition as ‘Delusional and Unhinged’

Minister Itamar Ben Gvir defends his record of police backing as the High Court weighs a petition for his dismissal. Read about the 2026 legal battle in Jerusalem.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 16, 2026, 9:45 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Times of Israel

A Defiant Address at the Police Academy

The political and legal tension surrounding the Ministry of National Security reached a boiling point as Itamar Ben Gvir addressed a new cohort of officers at the National Police Academy in Beit Shemesh. Speaking during an Independence Day ceremony on Thursday, the far right minister dismissed a High Court petition calling for his ouster as a "delusional and unhinged" maneuver. Ben Gvir framed the legal proceedings as an assault on the democratic will of half a million voters, asserting that his mandate to reform the police force is being obstructed by a legal establishment he views as hostile. The minister’s defiant posture comes in the wake of a grueling ten hour High Court hearing where justices scrutinized his record of intervention in police affairs.

Allegations of Unlawful Operational Interference

The legal challenge, which seeks to compel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to dismiss Ben Gvir, rests on accusations of "repeated and unlawful interference" in operational police matters. Petitioners argue that the minister has overstepped his policy making role by involving himself in specific tactical decisions, investigations, and the promotion of favored officers. Attorney General Gali Baharav Miara has notably backed these claims, accusing Ben Gvir of abusing his position to influence law enforcement in the "most sensitive areas" of public expression and security. During the hearing, Ben Gvir admitted to setting policy and influencing appointments, characterizing these actions not as illegal interference but as the legitimate execution of his ministerial authority.

Conditioned Support for Lethal Force

A central point of contention in the High Court proceedings is the minister’s habit of issuing immediate, public support for officers involved in lethal shootings of suspects. Ben Gvir boasted to the police academy graduates of his backing for officers who used deadly force against stone throwers and individuals allegedly attempting to run over police. However, High Court President Isaac Amit criticized this support as being "conditioned on politics," suggesting that Ben Gvir only embraces officers whose actions align with his ideological agenda. Justice Amit pointed to a perceived double standard, noting that while Ben Gvir defends officers who kill Arab suspects, he frequently attacks police who use force...