The Supreme Court convened on Wednesday in a rare expanded panel of nine justices to deliberate on unprecedented petitions demanding the removal of a sitting minister—National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.

The Court closed the hearing to the general public due to concerns over public disturbances, but it will be broadcast live. A large number of police forces were deployed outside the courthouse in expectation of protests.

As the hearing began, a protest was held outside the courthouse, attended by Knesset members, who slammed the very holding of the hearing. Justice Minister Yariv Levin declared on Wednesday morning: “The hearing is contrary to the law, and the judges’ decision will have no validity. The authority to appoint or dismiss a minister is granted by law to the prime minister, not the court. My colleague Minister Ben Gvir will continue in his position by virtue of the will of the people and the confidence of the Knesset.”

Ben-Gvir, surrounded by supporters, spoke to the press before the hearing, saying: “The dismissed attorney general Gali Baharav-Miara says I set policy, change the police, intervene in appointments, and back soldiers. The truth? She’s right. That’s what I was elected for—not to be a puppet, not to cut ribbons, not to be a model for the prosecution. I was elected to govern.” To applause from the audience, he continued: “Am Yisrael voted for Otzma Yehudit so that we would govern—and Baruch Hashem, that’s what we’re doing. The dismissed attorney general will not set policy, the prosecution will not appoint officers, and their agents will not cancel the will of the voters.”

“The attempt to interfere in a minister’s authority is dangerous for democracy. It was revealed just yesterday how Baharav-Miara approached ex-Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, and told him: ‘Find material against Ben Gvir.’ He came back and said, ‘There is no material,’ and she told him, ‘Go keep looking.’ This is not a democracy. I demand to investigate and arrest Gali Baharav-Miara and Ronen Bar for this.”

He added: “In a democracy, the minister sets policy, and the minister makes appointments—not a legal adviser, not the prosecution, not their agents. That’s how democracy works. I say: don’t drag Israel into a constitutional crisis, don’t drag Israel into division and polarization. Democracy will not fall—but judicial dictatorship will. The people are not afraid of you. The people chose the right wing, and they will get the right wing. If that doesn’t suit you, run for the Knesset. We were elected to govern, and with Hashem’s help, we will continue to govern.”

Likud Boaz Bismuth stated: “I want to place a warning sign ahead of yet another absurd and bizarre legal hearing. The blatant intervention of the judicial system is paralyzing the entire country.”

MK Limor Son Har-Melech told Arutz Sheva: “If the Supreme Court rules to dismiss the minister, it will lead to a constitutional crisis.”

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has stated multiple times that he will not fire Ben-Gvir.

Likud members Shlomo Karhi and Ariel Kallner also spoke to the press:

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)