The High Court of Israel has issued a temporary order freezing the government’s attempt to dismiss Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, who has been leading the prosecution of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his corruption trial. The court’s decision came immediately after the Israeli cabinet voted unanimously to fire Baharav-Miara, citing a lack of trust in her ability to work effectively with the government.
Justice Minister Yariv Levin announced the cabinet’s decision and addressed a letter to Baharav-Miara, saying she “should not try to impose herself on a government that has no trust in her and cannot work with her effectively”. However, opposition party Yesh Atid and activist groups quickly filed urgent petitions to Israel’s High Court, seeking to halt the dismissal.
The Movement for Quality Government in Israel, a prominent watchdog group, cited the conflict of interest over Netanyahu’s corruption trial and said the dismissal effectively turned the role of attorney general into a “political appointment”. In response, the court issued an injunction suspending the decision, clarifying that the government could not strip Baharav-Miara of her authority or name a replacement until further review, with a court hearing set to take place within 30 days.
Baharav-Miara said the government’s move to dismiss her was illegal, adding that “political pressures and actions contrary to law will not deter us from continuing to perform our duties with statesmanship, professionalism and integrity”. The court’s decision has significant implications for the rule of law in Israel and the ongoing corruption trial of Netanyahu.
The government’s attempt to dismiss Baharav-Miara is the latest development in the escalating tensions between the government and the attorney general. Baharav-Miara has been at loggerheads with the government since it took office, with tensions escalating over the government’s divisive judicial reform package.
The Israeli cabinet had passed a vote of no confidence against Baharav-Miara in March, accusing her of “inappropriate behaviour” and claiming that her “ongoing substantial differences of opinion” with the government prevented “effective collaboration”. However, Baharav-Miara had refuted the claims, saying the vote of no confidence was aimed at gaining “limitless power, as part of a wider move to weaken the judicial branch” and to “promote loyalty to the government”.
The court’s decision to halt the government’s attempt to fire Baharav-Miara has significant implications for Netanyahu’s corruption trial. Netanyahu is accused of bribery, fraud, and breach of public trust, and faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. The trial has been ongoing since 2020, and Netanyahu’s attempts to delay or derail the proceedings have been a major point of contention.
US President Donald Trump has come to Netanyahu’s defence, urging Israel to pardon him and calling the prosecutors targeting him “out of control”. Trump has even suggested that the US could leverage its aid to Israel to protect Netanyahu. The situation highlights the complex and often fraught relationship between Israel’s government and its judiciary, and the ongoing challenges to the rule of law in the country.