Israeli Cabinet Moves to Dismiss Attorney General, Supreme Court Blocks Decision Amid Growing Legal Crisis

Israel’s Cabinet voted unanimously on Monday to dismiss Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, intensifying a long-simmering conflict between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the judiciary—a clash critics warn poses a serious threat to the country’s democratic foundations.

The Supreme Court immediately froze the decision, pending a review of its legality.

Netanyahu and his allies accuse Baharav-Miara of overstepping her authority by blocking several government actions, including a controversial attempt to dismiss the head of the Shin Bet, Israel’s domestic security agency. The attorney general has defended her stance, citing a conflict of interest due to ongoing corruption trials involving Netanyahu and several of his former aides.

Baharav-Miara’s supporters, including legal experts and civil society groups, see the move as part of a broader effort by Netanyahu’s far-right, ultra-Orthodox coalition to consolidate power and erode judicial independence. Netanyahu, who is currently standing trial for bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, maintains his innocence and claims he is the target of a politically motivated campaign led by the legal establishment and amplified by the media.

The government’s attempt to remove Baharav-Miara comes less than two years after a sweeping and highly controversial push to overhaul Israel’s judiciary sparked massive protests across the country. Critics argue that the judicial crisis distracted the government and contributed to security lapses ahead of Hamas’s October 7 attack, which triggered the ongoing war in Gaza.

The Movement for Quality Government in Israel, a leading watchdog group, quickly filed an emergency petition with the Supreme Court, challenging the dismissal. The organization said over 15,000 citizens had joined the petition and called the move “illegal” and “unprecedented.”

“This decision turns the role of the attorney general into a political appointment,” the group stated, accusing the government of altering dismissal procedures only after failing to oust Baharav-Miara through legal means. “The legal battle will continue until this flawed decision is overturned.”

The Supreme Court’s ruling on the matter is expected to set a critical precedent for the future of checks and balances within Israel’s democratic system.