Far-right Justice Minister Yariv Levin initiated proceedings on Wednesday, March 5, to dismiss Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, following months of threats from Netanyahu ministers over her opposition to the fascist judicial overhaul plan. He calls Att. Baharav-Miara “the long arm of the government’s opposition,” and accusing her of having “politicized her office” and repeatedly thwarting the will of the government, in a move that immediately generated heated Hadash reaction.

Far-right protest the Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, outside her home in Tel Aviv on November 20, 2024 (Photo: Itai Ron / Flash 90)

According to Hadash MK Ofer Cassif, “This step to dismiss the attorney general is a criminal and fascist attempt, and we will do everything necessary at the Knesset and on the streets to thwart it.” “Now is the time to rise. To stand up against fascism and defend civil rights, ” Cassif said.

The initiative to remove Baharav-Miara will most likely end up in the Supreme Court since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is committed to a conflict-of-interest agreement that bars him from taking any move that could affect his ongoing criminal trial. As head of the law enforcement apparatus, the Attorney-General is the highest authority on the matter, and a more sympathetic attorney general could drop the charges against the prime minister.

According to an Israeli television poll released Wednesday night, 60% of the public thinks Netanyahu should resign as prime minister, compared to 31% who think he should stay in his post and 9% who are unsure. Among coalition voters, 24% think he should resign and among opposition voters, 94% think he should resign. A whopping 75% of the public supports the launching of a state commission of inquiry into the October 7 attack, compared to just 15% of the public that backs Netanyahu’s opposition to such a probe.

According to Ravit Hecht (Haaretz), “As the Israeli public demands the establishment of a commission of inquiry into the October 7 attack, the government seeks to control the selection of the committee members who will investigate its role in the catastrophe. The government’s detachment from the public is becoming increasingly blatant. Detachment not only from the bereaved families and families of hostages who are demanding answers, but from public opinion.”

Related: https://maki.org.il/en/?p=32509