“The Ben Gvir Law”: How the High Court Limited the Minister’s Powers over the Police

What the Law Changed

After taking office, Ben Gvir secured approval of Amendment No. 37 to the Police Ordinance, known as the “Ben Gvir Law.” The amendment expanded the minister’s powers in relation to the police, including the ability to set its policy. According to Zman.co.il, the amendment’s practical implementation sparked disputes over the boundary between political leadership and the professional independence of the police.

What Restrictions the High Court Imposed

In January 2025, the High Court of Justice struck down the amendment’s provision that allowed the minister to set policy regarding police investigations. Justice Uzi Vogelman emphasized that the police must remain the police of the state, not of the government. The Court subsequently restricted the minister’s intervention in appointments and investigations through interim orders: senior appointments must be made on the recommendation of a professional committee and with advance notice provided to the Attorney General.

The Dispute over Compliance with Court Decisions

As reported by the source, on July 20, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara informed the High Court of Justice that the minister continued to intervene in police work, contrary to the agreed principles and the interim order. In her view, after four meetings, the parties had failed to resolve substantive disputes concerning police independence. Ben Gvir, for his part, declared that he would continue appointing officers who implement his policy.

Crime and the Previous Five-Year Plan

The author of the Zman.co.il article links the politicization of the police and the suspension of part of the five-year plan to combat crime in Arab society to the worsening crime situation. The article notes that the number of people killed in incidents related to crime and violence in Arab society rose from 116 in 2022 to 244 in 2023 and 252 in 2025. It was also reported that 752 million shekels of the funds allocated to eradicate crime went unused, and that the government decided to redirect approximately 497 million shekels more to other purposes.

The Proceedings to Remove the Minister

Social activists filed petitions with the High Court of Justice demanding Ben Gvir’s removal from office, and in March the Attorney General supported those petitions. In April, the High Court of Justice heard them before an expanded panel. The source does not report a final court decision on the question of removing the minister.

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