In a no-confidence vote, Israeli Cabinet moves to the Fire Chief Justice

Israeli Cabinet passed a no-confidence move against the country's attorney general on Sunday and began the process of dismissing her. Critics of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called out some of his efforts to curb the independence of judiciary and purge officials he considers dishonest.

Netanyahu and his allies accused Attorney General Gali Baharav Miara of undermining them. The Cabinet's approval days before the fire of Israel's domestic intelligence chief rekindled protests that reminiscent of the government's plans to overhaul the judiciary before the war with Hamas began in 2023.

In a letter to the Cabinet on Sunday, Baharav Miara said the no-confidence move was not part of the formal process legally required for her removal. She added that Netanyahu's government had sought to refer to the war in Gaza, among other things, “to act “without checks and balance, even at the most sensitive periods above the law.”

Legal experts say laying off Baharav Miara would likely be a few weeks' process due to years of checks to protect the independence of her role. Her dismissal must be considered first by the Special Appointment Committee, which currently lacks some members and cannot be convened until the vacancy is filled.

Netanyahu, director of intelligence reporting, said Lonen Barr sent a stabbing letter to the government, calling the process to unlawfully fire him, and that the prime minister's motives were “fundamentally flawed.”

The country's Supreme Court has frozen Barr's firing as a hearing awaits.

Netanyahu says he is strengthening Israel's democracy by restraining what he describes as an excess from unelected officials and giving more power to elected governments. However, his opponents see the move as part of a coordinated effort by the Prime Minister, who has deleted a check of his powers and considers him personally dishonest.

Baharav Miara, 65, was appointed attorney general in 2022 in a short period when Netanyahu did not lead the Israeli government. Since Netanyahu returned to power later that year, the two have repeatedly clashed over policies, including judicial overhauls.

In Israel, the Attorney General is authorized to issue decisions that legally bind the government. This makes Baharav Miara's position one of the few checks on the enforcement power of Israel, a country without a formal constitution.

Baharav Miara also oversees the judicial system. The judicial system is indicting Netanyahu for accusations of corruption in three separate cases. The Prime Minister has testified at his long-standing trial, where he denied any misconduct.

“They're not a partisan research group in Jerusalem,” said Amir Fuchs, a legal expert at the Institute of Democracy, Israeli Democracy, “They're not a partisan research group.” “That's not the case that the government led by the defendant can fire his prosecutor.”

Netanyahu's critics point out that the new Attorney General could even suspend or cancel his corruption trial.

Last week, the Israeli government fired Barr, head of Israel's domestic intelligence reporting agency, Singh Bett, under Netanyahu's direction. Netanyahu said Barr lost his trust through unspecified disagreements. Mr. Burr then argued that his loyalty was to the Israeli masses.

Under Bar's direction, Singh Bett is investigating Qatar's potential interference in Israeli decision-making, including Netanyahu's own office. Netanyahu was motivated by a “serious conflict of interest” in eliminating him, Burr wrote in a letter to the government.

Despite the decision by the Israeli Cabinet on Sunday, Netanyahu and his allies cannot dismiss Baharav Miara as quickly as Mr. Baa. Instead, they will likely need to follow an elaborate process involving another committee and multiple hearings, and the matter is expected to eventually get caught up in the court.