The Israeli government has taken an unprecedented step by voting to express a lack of confidence in Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara, potentially leading to her dismissal. The vote, which took place on Sunday, is not legally binding but sends a strong political message that the government no longer views its top legal adviser as a partner.
Media outlets on both sides of the ideological divide have differing interpretations of this move. Makor Rishon, an intellectual home of Israel’s right-wing establishment, argues that Baharav-Miara has adopted a clearly oppositional approach to her role, refusing to defend key government initiatives and even authorizing private legal representation.
In contrast, Haaretz, a prominent left-leaning newspaper, portrays the move as a political ploy by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to delegitimize his attorney-general. The paper warns that dismissing Baharav-Miara would undermine the independence of law enforcement in Israel.
Both sides reflect legitimate anxieties: the right about unelected legal elites overriding voters’ will, and the left about elected officials eroding the rule of law when it stands in their way. However, the Jerusalem Post suggests that the real issue lies not in personalities but in the system. The government needs to reform its mechanism for resolving disputes between the attorney-general and the government, balancing legal oversight with democratic accountability.
This is not a time for political purges but rather a call for responsibility.
Source: https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-847304