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The court also determined that a minister\u2019s personal attendance does not replace the need for professional officials to answer lawmakers\u2019 questions.<\/p>\n
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir cannot prevent representatives of the Israel Police and theIsrael Prison Service<\/a> from appearing before Knesset committees, Israel\u2019s High Court of Justice ruled Wednesday, reinforcing the legislature\u2019s oversight authority over the executive branch.<\/p>\n The ruling came in response to a petition filed by MK Meirav Cohen<\/a> (Yesh Atid<\/a>). The court also determined that a minister\u2019s personal attendance does not replace the need for professional officials to answer lawmakers\u2019 questions.<\/p>\n Cohen welcomed the decision, calling it a win for parliamentary accountability.<\/p>\n \u201cWe won! There are judges in Jerusalem! Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir<\/a> will be forced, against his will, to send representatives from the police and the Israel Prison Service to report to the Committee on the Status of Women regarding violence against women,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n She added: \u201cThe High Court protected the dignity of the Knesset and the balance between it and the government, in a situation where the Knesset speaker failed and did not assist me, due to narrow political considerations.\u201d<\/p>\n