Israel attorney general before dismissal hearing: 'They’re firing the chief prosecutor in the PM’s trial'

Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara sent a letter on Monday to government ministers, shortly before they are scheduled to discuss her dismissal. Although she was invited to the hearing, Baharav-Miara has no intention of attending.

In the letter, Baharav-Miara asserts: “The government is illegally firing the chief prosecutor in the prime minister’s trial.”

She added: “The claims made by the minister of justice show that he is looking for a legal advisor who will obey the government and approve legal violations – such as avoiding the draft for yeshiva students, political interference in police investigations, and more.”

The opposition has announced that if the government decides to dismiss the attorney general, a petition will be filed with the High Court of Justice. Knesset Member Karine Elharrar (Yesh Atid), who will sign the affidavit for the petition, said: “The government is trampling every gatekeeper who stands in its way of dismantling the country, and is firing those who confront it with legal truth.”

According to her: “This isn’t the dismissal of an attorney general – it’s the destruction of the institution. Legal counsel that doesn’t stand firmly by the rule of law but instead aligns with politicians isn’t a gatekeeper – it’s a mouthpiece. And that must not be allowed to happen.”

Last night, violent clashes broke out between police and demonstrators at a protest in support of Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara in Tel Aviv. Protesters demanded the dismissal proceedings against her be canceled.

Shortly before the clashes began, former Supreme Court Justice Ayala Procaccia spoke at the rally, stating that “Dismissal has become a new tool for eliminating any independent senior official.” She further said, “The leadership has declared war on orderly democratic processes. We are sliding down a slope toward the abyss. Now is the time to unite in determined resistance.”