Latest news with #Baharav-Miara
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
A-G working to 'bring about downfall' of Israeli government, says Sa'ar
Sa'ar claimed that a 'senior' official in the justice ministry had told him that Baharav-Miara had decided to 'go all the way' in her opposition to the government. Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara is working 'persistently and openly' to 'paralyze the government's executive capabilities and bring about its downfall,' Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said on Tuesday. Sa'ar's comments came in response to an opinion issued by the attorney-general on Monday, according to which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is legally barred from appointing a new Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) head due to a conflict of interests. Netanyahu said on Thursday that he had decided to appoint Maj.-Gen. David Zini to the position, despite a High Court ruling a day earlier that the 'Qatargate' investigation put him in a conflict of interest with regards to firing the outgoing Shin Bet chief, Ronen Bar. Sa'ar's accusations were noteworthy, as he was responsible for Baharav-Miara's appointment to the position in his position as Justice Minister in the previous government. Sa'ar claimed that a 'senior' official in the Justice Ministry had told him that Baharav-Miara had decided to 'go all the way' in her opposition to the government. 'The reasoning presented by Baharav-Miara and [Deputy Attorney-General Gil] Limon is a supposed 'conflict of interests' involving the prime minister due to the Qatargate affair, despite the fact that the prime minister is not a suspect in the case,' Sa'ar wrote on X/Twitter. 'The very claim of a conflict of interests due to an investigation into people close to the prime minister is, in itself, far-reaching. In any case, any novice legal scholar knows that this alleged conflict of interest could have been 'neutralized' through much more proportionate measures instead of completely disqualifying the prime minister's involvement 'in any way' in the appointment of the head of the security agency he is legally mandated to oversee,' the foreign minister continued. 'For example, the attorney-general could have ruled that the new Shin Bet chief would not be involved in the investigation at all. 'The proposal to transfer the appointment authority to another minister makes a mockery of the explicit provisions of the law, which Baharav-Miara and Limon have ignored,' Sa'ar continued. In response to the A-G's opinion that it was 'doubtful' whether Zini could be appointed to the position, Sa'ar wrote, 'What remains of the legal provisions and the prime minister's responsibility in a key security domain when fundamental powers are stripped from him so casually by those who are supposed to provide him with legal counsel?" 'The Knesset was elected by the people. The government serves by virtue of the Knesset's confidence. The continued weakening of these institutions turns Israel into a caricature of a democratic regime. An attorney-general who persistently and openly works to paralyze the government's executive capabilities and bring about its downfall does not function as a legal adviser. By now, she is far more deserving of another distinguished title for her actual role: Leader of the Opposition.' The foreign minister's comments came alongside those of other ministers, some of whom, including Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi and Development of the Negev and Galilee Minister Yitzhak Wasserlauf, called on Netanyahu to ignore the High Court if it struck down Zini's appointment.
Arab News
23-03-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Hostage families, anti-government protesters rally in Tel Aviv
TEL AVIV: Israeli protesters took to the streets for a sixth day on Sunday amid reports Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Cabinet passed a vote of no confidence in the attorney general, in its latest move against officials deemed hostile to the government. However, any dismissal could be months away. Tens of thousands of Israelis have joined demonstrations in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv over the past week, as fears for Israeli hostages after a resumption of the bombing campaign in Gaza and anger at moves to sack the head of the domestic intelligence agency have brought different protest groups together. The removal of Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, approved by Cabinet last week, was set to be followed by a no-confidence motion against attorney general Gali Baharav-Miara, who has frequently clashed with the current government. Israeli media reported last week that the Cabinet would hold a no-confidence motion against Baharav-Miara, a former district attorney appointed under previous Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. The moves against the two officials have drawn accusations from protesters and the opposition that Netanyahu's right-wing government is undermining key state institutions. At the same time, families and supporters of the 59 hostages still held in Gaza have vented their anger at what many have seen as the government's abandonment of their loved ones. 'We are here to make it clear that Israel is a democracy and will remain a democracy,' said 46-year-old Uri Ash, who was taking part in a protest in Tel Aviv. 'We will overtake this government because it is ruining Israel,' he said. Although the protest groups have different priorities, they have built on mass demonstrations before the Gaza war that were unleashed by the right-wing government's moves to curb the power of the Supreme Court. Netanyahu said that, at the time, the overhaul was needed to rein in judicial overreach that was intruding on the authority of parliament, but protesters said it was an attempt to weaken one of the pillars of Israeli democracy. Earlier this month, Justice Minister Yariv Levin initiated moves to dismiss Baharav-Miara, accusing her of politicizing her office and obstructing the government. In practice, any step to remove the attorney general will likely face administrative hurdles and an appeals process that could delay it for months. But the reports, which the prime minister's office declined to confirm, have added fuel to the protests, echoing the same accusations made over Bar's dismissal. Cabinet approved Bar's dismissal despite objections from Baharav-Miara, but a temporary injunction from the Supreme Court has held up the move. Late on Saturday, Netanyahu issued a video statement defending the dismissal of Bar and rejecting accusations that the sacking was aimed at thwarting a Shin Bet investigation into allegations of financial ties between Qatar and aides in the prime minister's office. Instead, he said, the Shin Bet probe into the affair was launched as a means of delaying Bar's expected resignation over intelligence failures that allowed the devastating attack on Israel on Oct 7, 2023, to take place.
Al Arabiya
23-03-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Israel cabinet votes no confidence in attorney general
Israel's cabinet passed a vote of no confidence on Sunday in the attorney general, the justice minister said, moving against a vocal critic of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and deepening a political rift in the country. The vote against Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara is the first step in a process to dismiss her, and came two days after the government fired the head of the country's internal security agency. Israel's Supreme Court subsequently froze the firing of Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, and Baharav-Miara has cautioned the prime minister against trying to replace him. The unprecedented moves to dismiss the Shin Bet chief and now the attorney general have widened divisions in the country as Israel resumes its military operations in the Gaza Strip. A reignited protest movement has seen demonstrators accuse the prime minister of threatening democracy. Netanyahu's office, citing a cabinet meeting agenda, had said the government would hold the vote on Baharav-Miara 'due to her inappropriate behavior and due to significant and prolonged differences between the government and the government's legal advisor.' On Friday, Israel's top court froze the government's bid to fire Bar, shortly after the filing of five separate appeals, including from opposition leader Yair Lapid's center-right Yesh Atid party. A detailed hearing on the appeals will take place on April 8, presided over by three judges including Supreme Court President Yitzhak Amit, the spokeswoman for the Israeli courts told AFP. Yesh Atid has denounced the decision to fire Bar as being 'based on flagrant conflict of interest.' Netanyahu has cited an 'ongoing lack of trust' in Bar, who is expected to testify on April 8. The prime minister has insisted it is up to the government who will head Shin Bet. Security failure The opposition appeal highlighted what critics see as the two main reasons Netanyahu moved against Bar. The first was his criticism of the government over the security failure that allowed Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, the deadliest day in the country's history. The second was what the opposition appeal said is a Shin Bet investigation of Netanyahu's close associates on suspicion of receiving money linked to Qatar. Netanyahu's office has dismissed such accusations as 'fake news.' Following the Supreme Court's initial ruling, Baharav-Miara said Netanyahu cannot name a new internal security chief. 'According to the decision of the Supreme Court, it is prohibited to take any action that harms the position of the head of the Shin Bet, Ronen Bar,' she said. 'It is prohibited to appoint a new head of Shin Bet, and interviews for the position should not be held.' Ahead of the vote on Baharav-Miara, hundreds of protesters demonstrated outside parliament and the prime minister's residence in Jerusalem, leading to scuffles with police. Justice Minister Yariv Levin has criticized Baharav-Miara, a defender of judicial independence, for questioning the legality of certain governmental decisions. The attorney general should not 'take advantage of her position for political aims that completely paralyze the work of the government,' he said.
Asharq Al-Awsat
23-03-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Defying Protests, Israeli Cabinet Votes No Confidence in Attorney General
Israeli protesters took to the streets for a sixth day on Sunday as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet approved a motion of no confidence motion on the attorney general in its latest move against officials deemed hostile to the government. Tens of thousands of Israelis have joined demonstrations in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv over the past week, as fears for Israeli hostages after a resumption of the bombing campaign in Gaza and anger at moves to sack the head of the domestic intelligence agency have brought different protest groups together. The removal of Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, approved by cabinet last week, was followed by a vote of no confidence against attorney general Gali Baharav-Miara, who has frequently clashed with the current government. After the vote, Justice Minister Yariv Levin called on Baharav-Miara to resign, saying "substantial and prolonged differences of opinion" prevented effective cooperation between the government and its chief legal adviser. He said he would consult with a committee responsible for appointing the attorney general and bring a proposal for her dismissal. Final dismissal of Baharav-Miara, a former district attorney appointed under previous prime minister Naftali Bennett, could be months away. But the moves against the two officials have drawn accusations from protesters and the opposition that Netanyahu's right-wing government is undermining key state institutions. At the same time, families and supporters of the 59 hostages still held in Gaza have vented their anger at what many see as the government's abandonment of their loved ones. "We are here to make it clear that Israel is a democracy and will remain a democracy," said 46-year-old Uri Ash at a protest in Tel Aviv. "We will overtake this government because it is ruining Israel," Reuters quoted him as saying. Although the protest groups have different priorities, they have built on mass demonstrations before the Gaza war against the government's moves to curb the power of the Supreme Court. Netanyahu said at the time the overhaul was needed to rein in judicial overreach that was intruding on the authority of parliament, but protesters said it was an attempt to weaken one of the pillars of Israeli democracy.
Reuters
23-03-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Defying protests, Israeli cabinet reported to be seeking attorney general's removal
TEL AVIV/JERUSALEM, March 23 (Reuters) - Israeli protesters took to the streets for a sixth day on Sunday amid reports Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet is preparing a no confidence motion on the attorney general in its latest move against officials deemed hostile to the government. Tens of thousands of Israelis have joined demonstrations in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv over the past week, as fears for Israeli hostages after a resumption of the bombing campaign in Gaza and anger at moves to sack the head of the domestic intelligence agency have brought different protest groups together. The removal of Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, approved by cabinet last week, was set to be followed by a no confidence motion against attorney general Gali Baharav-Miara, who has frequently clashed with the current government. Israeli media reported last week that cabinet would hold a no confidence motion on Sunday against Baharav-Miara, a former district attorney appointed under previous prime minister Naftali Bennett, although any dismissal could be months away. The moves against the two officials have drawn accusations from protestors and the opposition that Netanyahu's right-wing government is undermining key state institutions. At the same time, families and supporters of the 59 hostages still held in Gaza have vented their anger at what many have seen as the government's abandonment of their loved ones. "We are here to make it clear that Israel is a democracy and will remain a democracy," said 46 year-old Uri Ash, who was taking part in a protest in Tel Aviv. "We will overtake this government because it is ruining Israel," he said. Although the protest groups have different priorities, they have built on mass demonstrations before the Gaza war that were unleashed by the right-wing government's moves to curb the power of the Supreme Court. Netanyahu said at the time the overhaul was needed to rein in judicial overreach that was intruding on the authority of parliament, but protestors said it was an attempt to weaken one of the pillars of Israeli democracy. ACCUSATIONS Earlier this month, Justice Minister Yair Levin initiated moves to dismiss Baharav-Miara, accusing her of politicizing her office and obstructing the government. In practice, any step to remove the attorney general is likely to face administrative hurdles and an appeals process that could delay it for months. But the reports, which the prime minister's office declined to confirm, have added fuel to the protests, echoing the same accusations made over Bar's dismissal. Cabinet approved Bar's dismissal despite objections from Baharav-Miara, but the move has been held up by a temporary injunction from the Supreme Court. Late on Saturday, Netanyahu issued a video statement defending the dismissal of Bar and rejecting accusations that the sacking was aimed at thwarting a Shin Bet investigation into allegations of financial ties between Qatar and aides in the prime minister's office. Instead, he said, the Shin Bet probe into the affair was launched as a means of delaying Bar's expected resignation over intelligence failures that allowed the devastating attack on Israel on Oct 7, 2023 to take place. Netanyahu has rejected the accusations in the so-called "Qatargate" affair as an attempt to undermine his government for political reasons while Qatar has dismissed it as a "smear campaign."
