The Israeli government has unanimously voted to terminate the tenure of Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara. The vote took place amidst ongoing tensions between Baharav-Miara and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration, which has accused her of undermining governmental authority and destabilizing Israel’s rule of law.
Baharav-Miara, who has remained independent-mindedly as Attorney General since her appointment, has been under almost constant fire from Netanyahu’s right-wing government. The Prime Minister has empowered her to use her power oppressively. This sort of behavior completely undermines the pursuit of equitable implementation of government policies. This dismissal comes after months of right-wing, political calls for her removal – calls that many politicians on the right have been making for years.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice, Yariv Levin, initiated the processes to remove Baharav-Miara from office in March 2024. That process started earlier this year. This action met with huge public outcry and resulted in a lawsuit that challenged the legality of such a dismissal. In response to these challenges, Israel’s Supreme Court issued an injunction aimed at halting her firing, highlighting the unique authority and role of the Attorney General within Israel’s legal framework.
As attorney general, Baharav-Miara fulfills two functions—to be the government’s legal adviser and a public watchdog. Her position is central for upholding the rule of law as hard law in Israel. Despite the controversies surrounding her administration, she attended a cabinet meeting at the Bible Lands Museum in Jerusalem on June 5, 2024, signaling her continued engagement in governmental affairs prior to the vote.
The ramifications of such a decision could be felt across the entirety of the Israeli political arena. This leads to important questions on the nature of legal oversight in Israel, as raised by Baharav-Miara’s dismissal. Such a change could dramatically impact government accountability.
“The government has just unanimously approved the proposal of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice Yariv Levin to immediately terminate the tenure of Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara.” – Levin’s spokesperson
