Israeli Cabinet Moves to Remove Attorney General, Drawing Criticism
In a significant development, Israel’s cabinet has passed a no-confidence motion against the country’s attorney general, initiating proceedings to potentially dismiss her. Critics argue that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration is attempting to curb the judiciary’s independence and eliminate officials deemed disloyal.
Netanyahu and his allies have accused Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara of undermining their efforts. The cabinet’s approval to fire the head of Israel’s domestic intelligence agency recently reignited protests, reminiscent of the backlash against government plans to overhaul the judiciary before the conflict with Hamas commenced in 2023.
In response to the no-confidence motion, Attorney General Baharav-Miara stated that the process is not part of the formal legal procedure for her removal, arguing that Netanyahu’s government is attempting to operate “above the law” without checks and balances, even during sensitive times like the Gaza conflict.
Legal experts contend that dismissing the attorney general will be a protracted process due to safeguards designed to preserve her role’s independence. Before proceeding, the issue must be reviewed by a special appointments committee currently facing vacancies.
Ronnen Bar, the intelligence official targeted by Netanyahu, despised the move, labeling it as legally dubious and questioning the prime minister’s motives. His dismissal has been frozen by the Supreme Court pending a hearing.
Netanyahu justifies his actions as a strengthening of Israeli democracy, depicting them as efforts to curb the overreach of unelected officials and empower the elected government. However, opponents view these actions as a deliberate attempt by the prime minister to eliminate checks on his power and remove individuals he sees as personally disloyal.
Appointed in 2022 during a period when Netanyahu was not leading the government, Baharav-Miara has repeatedly clashed with Netanyahu over policy issues, including the controversial judicial overhaul. Her role is one of the few checks on executive power in Israel, a country without a formal constitution. Furthermore, she oversees the justice system, which is currently prosecuting Netanyahu on corruption charges in three separate cases.
Legal experts, like Amir Fuchs from the Israel Democracy Institute, criticize the potential conflict of interest, asserting that a government led by a defendant cannot justifiably fire their prosecutor. The implications are significant, as a new attorney general could potentially suspend or cancel Netanyahu’s ongoing corruption trial.
The dismissal of Bar, the head of the Shin Bet, over unspecified disagreements, raises further concerns. Bar had been overseeing an investigation into potential Qatari interference in Israeli decision-making, including within Netanyahu’s office. His removal by Netanyahu, cited as a severe conflict of interest, adds to the controversy surrounding the prime minister’s actions.
Despite the cabinet’s decision, the process to remove Baharav-Miara will likely involve a complex procedure, including a separate committee and multiple hearings, eventually expected to be adjudicated in court.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/23/world/middleeast/israel-attorney-general.html
