Israeli government votes unanimously to remove attorney general

JERUSALEM

The Israeli government unanimously voted on Sunday to withdraw confidence from Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, initiating her dismissal process.

“There is no way in which effective cooperation can exist between the attorney general and the government, and there is no way to restore the relationship of trust that no longer exists,” Justice Minister Yariv Levin said following the vote.

“This situation is seriously damaging the functioning of the government and its ability to implement its policies,” Levin added.

During Sunday’s Cabinet session, Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar accused Baharav-Miara of hostility toward the government.

“Everyone sees the attorney general’s antagonism; whenever we form a position, she crafts an opposing one,” he said in comments cited by the Israel Hayom newspaper.

According to the Israeli daily Haaretz, the justice minister, in an 86-page no-confidence motion, charged that the attorney general’s office “has morphed into an autocratic, aggressive political authority.”

Despite the vote, the government must secure approval from an advisory committee that recommended Baharav-Miara’s appointment to proceed with her ouster.

Madness

Israeli opposition leaders swiftly condemned the government’s move to withdraw confidence from the attorney general.

Avigdor Lieberman, head of the Yisrael Beiteinu Party, said on X that Baharav-Miara’s dismissal aims to “distract attention from the hostage crisis (in Gaza) and draft-dodging law.”

He stressed that the move masks the government’s refusal to establish an official inquiry into the failures of Oct. 7, 2023, and Israel’s renewed exposure to rocket fire.

“In two days, we’ve faced barrages from Yemen, Lebanon, and Gaza,” he added.

Yair Golan, leader of the Democratic Party, was also critical of the government’s move.

“They (government) have abandoned reason and no longer respect red lines. This government, unanimously voting to sack the attorney general, is unanimously voting to bury democracy – but they’ll face a resolute people who will fight and prevail.”

President Isaac Herzog also lamented the no-confidence vote, saying, "To what level of madness can we sink as a nation?”

Sunday’s vote came two days after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said that the government had unanimously agreed to remove Bar as head of the Shin Bet domestic security service, marking a first in Israel’s history.

Israel’s Supreme Court is set to review petitions challenging the dismissal of the Shin Bet chief on April 8.

Baharav-Miara was appointed as attorney general on Feb. 7, 2022, for a six-year term by the justice minister, with the approval of the government.

Right-wing ministers in Netanyahu’s coalition have accused Baharav-Miara of using her authority based on left-leaning views that undermine the government’s agenda.

In contrast to Netanyahu’s government, Baharav-Miara has repeatedly called for an official inquiry into the failures of Oct. 7, 2023. This demand has angered the Israeli premier and his party, who strongly oppose such an investigation.

The Israeli army has launched a surprise aerial campaign on Gaza since Tuesday, killing more than 700 Palestinians, injuring over 1,200 others, and shattering a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement that took hold in January.

More than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, and more than 113,000 injured in a brutal Israeli military onslaught on Gaza since October 2023.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.