Israeli cabinet casts no-confidence vote against attorney general

The justice minister of Israel announced in a first-time move to remove yet another vocal critic of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right government that Israel’s cabinet has passed a vote of no confidence in attorney general Gali Baharav-Miara.

The government fired Ronen Bar, the head of Shin Bet, the nation’s internal security agency, just two days prior, a decision that the Supreme Court later ruled was unconstitutional.

According to the prime minister’s office, Baharav-Miara, the country’s most senior legal official, is accused of “inappropriate behavior” and of “ongoing substantial disagreements between the government and the attorney general, which prevent effective collaboration.”

The attorney general refuted the allegations and claimed that the government was trying to be above the law in its operations despite not being present at the cabinet meeting. In a letter sent to the cabinet before the vote, she stated that the vote of no confidence was intended to “promote loyalty to the government” and gain “limitless power” as part of a wider effort to weaken the judicial branch.

Her dismissal is not yet the result of the vote. A committee will hear the arguments and hold a hearing to consider the case. The Supreme Court may still veto her removal if the committee doesn’t vote for it.

Taus of protesters claim that the attorney general and Shin Bet chief’s attempted dismissal represent a threat to democracy and represent a crackdown on the few voices who are still critical of Netanyahu.

Meanwhile, the prime minister cited Bar’s “continuing lack of trust,” which is expected to be revealed on April 8. The government is in charge of Shin Bet, according to Netanyahu, who has argued.

The prime minister’s criticism of the government over the security failure that allowed Hamas’s most deadly day in Israeli history led to the prime minister’s opposition, according to critics. They also allege that there is a role in Netanyahu’s ongoing corruption trial.

Shin Bet has questioned Netanyahu’s close associates on suspicion of receiving money from Qatar.

Bar claimed in a letter that his ouster was motivated by a desire to put an end to the “pursuit of truth” about the events that followed October 7. Netanyahu should have been blamed for preventing the Hamas-led assault, according to Shin Bet’s report released this month, while Shin Bet criticized Netanyahu for creating the conditions for the attacks.