Government of Israel votes to remove Attorney General, intensifying dispute with the judiciary branch
The controversy surrounding the potential dismissal of Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara has intensified, with the Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, moving forward with a contentious decision to remove her from office.
In July 2025, a ministerial panel, including Netanyahu's allies, held hearings about Baharav-Miara's dismissal. However, Baharav-Miara declined to participate, labelling the process a "sham hearing" that undermines democracy and the rule of law [1].
On August 4, 2025, the government voted to dismiss her, a move that was quickly challenged legally. In response, Israel's Supreme Court issued an injunction to halt the firing pending judicial review [2][3][4].
Justice Minister Yariv Levin, a key figure pushing for Baharav-Miara's removal, prepared a dossier accusing her of systematically obstructing government policy [1]. However, critics argue that the government's dismissal attempt is illegal and politically motivated, particularly given that Netanyahu himself is currently on trial for corruption. This raises concerns about a potential conflict of interest and interference with judicial independence [2].
The Movement for Quality Government in Israel, a non-profit organisation, has filed an emergency petition with the Supreme Court following Monday's vote. The group, along with more than 15,000 citizens, believes the "flawed decision" to dismiss Baharav-Miara needs to be overturned. They accuse the government of undermining the role of the attorney general as an independent legal authority [5].
The group also alleges that the government changed dismissal procedures only after failing to legally remove Baharav-Miara under the existing rules. They claim that the decision turns the role of the attorney general into a political appointment [5].
The situation is an ongoing legal and political conflict, with the judiciary expected to play a decisive role in the coming days [1][2][3][4]. The Movement for Quality Government in Israel's petition adds another layer to the legal challenge to the government's decision to dismiss Baharav-Miara.
References:
[1] Associated Press. (2025, August 5). Israel's attorney general refuses to participate in dismissal hearing. Associated Press. https://apnews.com/article/israel-law-and-order-middle-east-government-and-politics-49c868e48561008c67d7402a547da6c7
[2] Haaretz. (2025, August 5). Netanyahu's government moves to fire attorney general Gali Baharav-Miara. Haaretz. https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-netanyahu-s-government-moves-to-fire-attorney-general-gali-baharav-miara-1.100190422
[3] Reuters. (2025, August 5). Israeli Supreme Court orders delay in attorney general's dismissal. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-supreme-court-orders-delay-attorney-generals-dismissal-2025-08-05/
[4] The Times of Israel. (2025, August 5). Supreme Court freezes Netanyahu government's vote to dismiss attorney general. The Times of Israel. https://www.timesofisrael.com/supreme-court-freezes-netanyahu-governments-vote-to-dismiss-attorney-general/
[5] The Jerusalem Post. (2025, August 5). Movement for Quality Government files emergency petition against attorney general's dismissal. The Jerusalem Post. https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/movement-for-quality-government-files-emergency-petition-against-attorney-generals-dismissal-679250
- News reports suggest that the Movement for Quality Government in Israel, a non-profit organization, has filed an emergency petition with the Supreme Court, challenging the dismissal of Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, claiming it undermines the role of the attorney general as an independent legal authority.
- The dismissal of Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara has led to protests in Gaza, with critics arguing that the government's action is politically motivated, given Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ongoing trial for corruption and the potential conflict of interest it presents.
- The controversy surrounding the potential dismissal of Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara has also sparked discussions in the realm of policy and legislation, with concern over the implications of the dismissal on war-and-conflicts, politics, and general news.
