The official Israeli Broadcasting Corporation said: "All Israeli government ministers voted this evening, Monday, on the proposal of Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Yariv Levin to immediately terminate the term of attorney Gali Baharav-Miara as legal advisor to the government."
Baharav-Miara refused to attend the voting session, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not attend, according to the commission.
The authority said that the Supreme Court (the highest judicial body) issued a "temporary order freezing the government's dismissal of the attorney general."
The court clarified that the government "has no right to infringe upon Baharav-Miara's powers," ruling that "until the petitions are adjudicated, no change will occur in the attorney general's powers, and no replacement may be announced or a deputy appointed," without specifying a date.
In this context, the Yesh Atid party, led by opposition leader Yair Lapid, and the Movement for Quality Government filed a petition with the Supreme Court against the government's decision to dismiss the attorney general. The petition stated that the decision was made "illegally, bypassing all oversight mechanisms, and aims to undermine the independence of legal counsel and subordinate it to political will," according to the same source.
"The government doesn't want legal advice, it wants compliance," said MK Karine Elharrar, a member of the Knesset's Constitution and Legislation Committee and a signatory to the petition. "It chooses to abandon the rule of law, and we choose to fight for it and for democracy."
Following the government's ratification of the dismissal, the Movement for Quality Governance said, "We have submitted a petition to the Supreme Court, along with more than 15,000 petitioners. The government will meet us in court," according to the Broadcasting Authority.
Prior to the vote, the opposition organized demonstrations and blocked roads outside Netanyahu's office in West Jerusalem, where the government was holding its session.
During the cabinet vote, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said, "As of today, we must stop cooperating with her (the attorney general). Not only must we not invite her to hearings, but we must stop working with her completely. All government ministries must sever all contact with her."
Ministers in the right-wing Israeli government accuse the attorney general of exercising her authority based on left-wing views, which harms the functioning of the government coalition.
Mayara has frequently expressed opposition to the Netanyahu government's policies, opposed the government's dismissal of former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, and supported legal action against Ben-Gvir.
Following the government's decision, opposition Blue and White party leader Benny Gantz commented, "Instead of the government focusing on returning the kidnapped soldiers, strengthening the fighters, and strengthening the unity of the people, it is taking us back to October 6," before the war on Gaza began on October 7, 2023.
Ali X added: "The fabricated dismissal of the legal advisor is a manifestation of the disengagement of a government that has lost touch with Israeli society."
On Monday morning, the attorney general sent a letter to ministers stating, "The Minister of Justice is looking for a legal advisor who will obey the government and legitimize legal violations, such as the refusal to recruit yeshiva students, political interference in police investigations, and others."
Levin responded to Mayara during the voting session, saying, "Contrary to everything stated in the chancellor's letter, the government followed a very long path before we reached today's discussion." He added, "Over a very long period, attempts were made to work with her in cooperation. We did not try to dismiss her from the first day of the government."
He continued: "Moreover, the proceedings regarding the attorney general have been going on for several months, starting with the motion of no confidence against her. We gave her every opportunity to present her position. However, she did not respond substantively to the allegations at any stage."
Last July, an Israeli ministerial committee unanimously approved the government's recommendation to dismiss Mayara, who in turn asked the Supreme Court to intervene and prevent the government from dismissing her.
The committee was headed by Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli, and also included Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, National Security Minister Ben-Gvir, Science and Technology Minister Gila Gamliel, and Religious Affairs Minister Michael Malkeli.
In late March, the Israeli government unanimously voted to withdraw confidence from the attorney general and proceed with impeachment proceedings, during a session she also did not attend. At the time, Mayara considered the government's actions against her to be "motivated by corruption and a desire to influence existing criminal cases."
