Take Down Israel's Attorney General Baharav-Miara: Cabinet Motions to Oust Prime Suspect Netanyahu's Foe
- ⏳ 1 Min
- Netanyahu Advocates for Dismissal of the Attorney General
In a heated Sunday session, Israel’s government voted to strip Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara of her job. Justice Minister Yariv Levin quickly demanded her resignation, pointing to episodic rifts between the government and the top prosecutor. The Attorney General will now face a protracted battle as Levin consults with the appointment committee.
Critics of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s tenure decried this move as an attack on crucial state institutions. In response, Levin accused Baharav-Miara of politicizing her office and obstructing the government.
Israel: Baharav-Miara's Defiance Haunts the Government
A series of contentious decisions by Netanyahu's administration led to Baharav-Miara's repeated opposition. The Attorney General's exit is expected to stretch on due to formidable obstacles. Previous attempts to dismiss Shin Bet chief Ronan Bar set off widespread protests. Baharav-Miara challenged the Supreme Court's decision to halt Bar's dismissal just last Friday.
Overnight on Saturday, Netanyahu shared a video defending Bar's removal and denied allegations of intentional obstruction of an investigation into rumors of financial links between Qatar and his associates. Instead, he argued that the investigation was intended to prolong Bar's tenure, rather than address these allegations.
On Sunday, thousands of Israelis took to the streets once more to urge negotiations for the release of hostages detained by Hamas and demonstrate against the administration. "We are here to prove that Israel remains a democracy," declared 46-year-old Uri Ash in Tel Aviv. "This government must be ousted because it is eroding Israel."
- Israel
- Benjamin Netanyahu
- Vote of No Confidence
- Sunday
Enrichment Data:The ongoing drama concerning the vote of no confidence against Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's controversies in Israel may be summarized as follows:
- No Confidence Vote Against Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara:
- The Israeli cabinet handed down a unanimous motion of no confidence against Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara on March 23, 2025. This marks a preliminary step toward her potential dismissal due to "substantive and prolonged disagreements" with the government [1][2][3].
- Baharav-Miara contends that the government seeks to circumvent the law and undermine checks and balances, threatening the judicial branch [1][3].
- The opposition has denounced the move as unlawful and motivated by Netanyahu's ongoing corruption trial [1].
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:
- Netanyahu was absent during the vote due to a conflict of interest, as Judge Gali Baharav-Miara is the chief prosecutor in his corruption trial [1].
- The government's actions, including the move against Baharav-Miara, have been fiercely criticized by opposition parties and sparked substantial public demonstrations [1][3]. However, as of now, there is no recent vote of no confidence specifically against Netanyahu himself.
- The European Parliament has expressed its concern about the situation in the Middle East, voicing opposition to the controversial vote of no confidence against Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara in Israel.
- Despite Justice Minister Yariv Levin's dismissal request for Baharav-Miara, the Attorney General has shown defiance, challenging the Supreme Court's decision to halt Shin Bet chief Ronan Bar's dismissal, a move that was met with widespread protests.
- In the midst of this tumultuous political climate, Israeli citizens, such as Uri Ash, have taken to the streets to protest the government's actions, expressing their belief that the administration, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is eroding Israel's democratic values.
