National Security Minister MK Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday to fire Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara over what they said were her attempts to trip up the government.
Ben-Gvir said in a press conference prior to his Otzma Yehudit Party’s weekly meeting at the Knesset that Baharav-Miara had sent one of her deputies to the Lahav 433 National Crime Unit to request that it open a criminal investigation into his alleged distribution of thousands of firearms by people who were unqualified to do so.
Guilty conscience
According to Ben-Gvir, when the deputy wasn’t looking, Baharav-Miara sent a different deputy with a demand “to find something against Ben-Gvir.”
The national security minister said his source was an “attorney” who had a “guilty conscience.” He did not provide proof of his claim, and the Attorney-General’s Office put out a statement soon after saying that the claim was “completely false.”
Smotrich criticized Baharav-Miara for what he said was her inaction against the incitement against the government and prime minister. He accused Baharav-Miara of “taking advantage” of her role and authorities “to hold a political fight.” If she had any “integrity and fairness,” she should resign and join protests against the government.
The demands to remove Baharav-Miara came on the backdrop of increasingly severe rhetoric against her over a number of occurrences in the past weeks.
These include recent flares shot in the direction of Netanyahu’s house in Caesarea; the ongoing investigation into members of the prime minister’s inner circle; a High Court petition to force the prime minister to fire Ben-Gvir over repeated violations of the law preventing him from involving himself in operational police matters; and Netanyahu’s upcoming testimony in his criminal trials.
The prime minister is bound by a conflict-of-interest agreement that bars him from involving himself in any matters pertaining to the judicial system, including the attorney-general, who is also responsible for the country’s public prosecution.
An attempt by Netanyahu to fire Baharav-Miara may result in the High Court ruling him incapacitated and could lead to a constitutional crisis if he refuses to step aside.
Ynet reported on Monday that Netanyahu no longer ruled out an initiative to remove Baharav-Miara. Walla reported that he was also considering removing Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) chief Ronen Bar from his position.
Neither report included any proof.