Yariv Levin is a senior Israeli lawmaker in the Likud Party and currently serves as the country's justice minister and deputy prime minister. He previously served as Knesset speaker, aliyah and integration minister, tourism minister, and public security minister.
A longtime member of the Likud, Levin's influence in Israeli politics skyrocketed in 2023 when he announced a wide-ranging overhaul of the country's judicial system. Created and spearheaded by both himself and MK Simcha Rothman, judicial reform was highly controversial and sparked massive nationwide protests for months on end, interrupted only by the October 7 massacre and Israel's subsequent war against Hamas.
Baharav-Miara was absent from the meeting and accused the government of attempting to place itself above the law.
The bill that will reconfigure the Judicial Selection Committee is set to advance.
“We, presidents of the universities signed below, hereby warn against an unprecedented threat to the rule of law in Israel if the attorney-general is fired,” the letter began.
The Jerusalem Post has spoken to a variety of top sources close to the key players over the years and, more recently, on both sides of the issue to try to paint a picture.
Levin's letter shows the government repeatedly attempted to bypass legal requirements or Supreme Court rulings, with the A-G often serving as the only barrier.
On Wednesday, Justic Minister Yariv Levin argued that Baharav-Miara has used her power to serve as a “long arm of the opposition” to the government.
“She has become a full-fledged political player who systematically works against the government with the transparent goal of bringing it down," Sa'ar wrote.
Members of the opposition and a number of NGOs argued the move was a continuation of the government’s attempts to erode Israeli democracy.
A-G warns that the proposed judicial selection reform prioritizes politics over professionalism, risking judicial independence and altering the balance of Israel’s legal system.
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