Opponents view the no-confidence vote as an element of wider efforts to undermine the judiciary’s oversight of Netanyahu’s administration.
The vote on Sunday follows the government’s recent decision to dismiss Ronen Bar, the head of Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security agency, indexed later by the Supreme Court.
Baharav-Miara, the nation’s chief legal figure, faces accusations of “inappropriate behavior” and of holding “persistent profound disagreements with the government, hindering effective cooperation,” as stated by the prime minister’s office.
In response, the attorney general, who was absent from the cabinet session, rejected the claims and accused the government of attempting to operate outside the law. She argued that the vote seeks “unlimited power, as part of a broader effort to weaken the judicial branch” and to “promote loyalty to the government,” in a letter sent to the cabinet prior to the vote.
The vote does not immediately result in her dismissal; it will be reviewed by a committee, which will hold a hearing to consider the matter. If the committee fails to back her removal, the Supreme Court could still intervene to block it.
The push to dismiss both the Shin Bet chief and the attorney general has drawn thousands of protesters, who argue that these actions pose a threat to democracy and represent a crackdown on the few remaining critics of Netanyahu.
Netanyahu has cited an “ongoing lack of trust” in Bar, who is slated to testify on April 8. Critics suggest Netanyahu’s motivations came from Bar’s critical stance on the government’s alleged mismanagement leading to the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, and possibly Netanyahu’s ongoing bribery trial.
Shin Bet has been investigating Netanyahu’s close associates over suspicions of accepting money linked to Qatar.
Bar argued that his removal was an attempt to halt the “pursuit of truth” regarding the events leading up to October 7. Shin Bet recently released a report acknowledging its failure to prevent the Hamas-led attack and criticizing Netanyahu for creating conditions that allowed the incident.
Netanyahu’s office has rejected these claims, labeling them as “fake news.”
