Israel government takes first step to oust attorney general

6/3/2025 6:06

Israel's justice minister

took a first step on Wednesday toward removing the country's

attorney general from office, a measure that could spark a new

constitutional crisis and help the government enact policies

that have drawn fierce criticism.



Appointed by the previous government, Attorney General Gali

Baharav-Miara has often sparred with Prime Minister Benjamin

Netanyahu's nationalist-religious coalition over the legality of

its bills and policies.



In a letter to fellow cabinet ministers, Justice Minister

Yariv Levin proposed a no-confidence measure against

Baharav-Miara, citing substantial differences between the

government and the attorney general.



Baharav-Miara was celebrated by the opposition as a

gatekeeper of democracy in 2023 when Netanyahu's government

launched a bid to overhaul Israel's justice system and give

elected politicians more power over the Supreme Court.



Differences with the attorney general that have had a direct

impact on the governing coalition's stability also include

exemptions granted to ultra-Orthodox Jewish seminary students

from military conscription.



Those issues are yet to be resolved in Israel's parliament.



There was no immediate comment from the attorney general on

Levin's announcement. Baharav-Miara's ouster would likely be a

long and protracted process that could be struck down midway or

contested in court.



It comes as Israel is facing legal challenges abroad over

its conduct of the war against the Palestinian militant group

Hamas in Gaza and as Netanyahu is standing trial on corruption

charges he denies.



Last Thursday the attorney general also announced an

investigation into the links between "people active in the prime

minister's office and people tied to Qatar."