Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir He issued a statement to the media this evening (Monday), in light of the arrest of a senior IPS officer and police officers with the rank of deputy superintendent and superintendent on suspicion of bribery and breach of trust - and harshly attacked the legal advisor to the government. Gali Baharav-Miara.
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Ben-Gvir demanded that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Justice Minister Yariv Levin fire her.
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Ben Gvir Fatah: "Gali Baharav's private police crossed a red line this morning, when they decided to arrest for questioning two senior law enforcement officials who are implementing my policy, the policy of the right-wing government.
""Two weeks ago, I exposed the serious affair in which the Attorney General demanded that Lahav investigators take my head and open an investigation against me. However, this morning we discovered that when the Attorney General was unable to create a case for me through the police, she decided to try to create a case for me through Gali's private investigations department, or by its official name: the Private Investigations Department.".
He said, "The decision to investigate police officers and a senior prison service official who are implementing my policy fully and openly, on the grounds that implementing the policy constitutes a breach of trust, is a political decision, for personal reasons, the purpose of which is to maintain the rule of the legal advisor to the government, to deter senior officers from implementing my policy, and ultimately to bring about my overthrow - and the overthrow of the right-wing government and its leader.".
He added: "The conduct of the Ombudsman shows that if you are a senior officer in the Prison Service, who implements the policy of the elected minister, and brings about a revolution in the conditions of terrorists in prison, you find yourself detained for questioning, but if you are the head of a security organization that has completely failed, but implements the Ombudsman's policy - you have complete backing.".
""I want to tell you something amazing: the same officer, who brought about a tremendous revolution in the IPS, is threatened by elements of crime and terrorism at the highest level, due to his strict policy against them. It is shameful and disgraceful that they come to him like the last of the criminals and detain him.".
According to Ben Gvir, "The reason for this is clear - this officer implemented my policy, and made a huge revolution in the IPS - and that is why Gali is pursuing him. Likewise, the police officer who was arrested by Gali's private police, who implemented a change in the policy of the Sha'ban District Police, began to act against Arab terrorism in Judea and Samaria - and that is why Gali is pursuing him.".
The minister addressed the Prime Minister and the Minister of Justice directly: "I am now addressing the Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and the Minister of Justice Yariv Levin - they have reached the point of no return! The Attorney General has embarked on a wild, anti-democratic and illegal campaign with one purpose: to overthrow the government and its leader, by illegal means. In order for the right-wing government to be able to function, without the Attorney General preventing it from doing so, we must stop this wild campaign and the advisor's coup d'état.
""Therefore, I demand that the government convene this coming Sunday in order to decide on convening the public committee headed by retired judge Asher Grunis, to examine whether the lawyer can continue in her role as legal advisor to the government, and to bring the matter to a vote by the government. The time has come to reach conclusions. The time has come to take action.".
MK Limor Son Har MelK: "Gali Baharav Meyara broke all the rules. Instead of serving the public and maintaining the rule of law, she is personally and politically persecuting right-wingers and the elected government.".
""The arrest of senior officers who carry out government policy is a dangerous step with a clear goal: to overthrow the right-wing government through undemocratic mechanisms.".
""This is a blatant legal coup attempt. I call on the Prime Minister and the Minister of Justice to act immediately to dismiss the advisor, and to put an end to the dark dictatorial rule that a minority that has lost public trust is trying to impose on us. This is the time to defend our democracy. Return power to the people!""
Tamir Morag, Channel 14's political correspondent, responded: "The situation in which armed civilians (even if on duty) unexpectedly block the vehicle of a senior IPS officer and attack him with drawn weapons is reminiscent of a scene from the series Narcos - not an event in a state of law.".
""Beyond the appalling lack of professionalism that almost caused the disaster (the officer's security guards thought for a moment that it was an assassination attempt and drew their weapons on the investigators), this is a mafia-style attempt to wreak havoc.".
""Without going into the details of the case - how exactly is an arrest in this manner necessary, and what message does it send? Would the senior officer have escaped if they had arrested him without this dangerous rampage? I don't know if the prosecutor's office is a criminal organization, but it is definitely starting to use the methods of drug cartels in Mexico.".
