Overview
- Israel’s High Court limited National Security Minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir’s control of the police, blocking him from public directives on use of force or interrogations and tightening oversight of senior appointments.
- Promotions from the rank of superintendent and above must follow recommendations from the police general staff, with the attorney general notified a week in advance of each move.
- The court declined the attorney general’s bid to oust Ben‑Gvir or fully freeze his appointment powers, issuing temporary orders while formal procedures are completed.
- The ruling follows a closed hearing before a nine‑judge panel that drew heavy security outside and saw several right‑wing ministers and MKs ejected for shouting at the bench.
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu argued the court lacks authority to force a dismissal, while Ben‑Gvir framed the case as political and cited policy changes he drove, as petitioners pointed to the contested ‘Deri Doctrine’ that is usually tied to criminal indictments.