Published: 25 March 2025
Last updated: 25 March 2025
“Barring a last-minute change, Israel will end this week with a regime different from the one it had at its beginning. According to the planned timetable, it will no longer be the same Israel by Thursday afternoon.”
That is the verdict of Avi Bar-Eli in Haaretz on the past crucial week for the future of Israeli democracy. It started on Sunday when the Israeli government convened. However, instead of addressing urgent national crises—such as the Gaza and Lebanon conflicts, missile attacks, or rising crime—it focused on removing Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara. Justice Minister Yariv Levin presented an 84-page justification filled with misleading claims, and the cabinet unanimously approved the first step towards her dismissal.
This move signals a critical shift in Israel’s democratic structure, especially after the controversial attempt to oust Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, which the High Court froze.
Simultaneously, the government advanced legislation redefining the West Bank as "Judea and Samaria" and pushed forward the 2025 state budget. The Finance Committee debated the allocation of funds, particularly substantial financial support for ultra-Orthodox communities in exchange for political backing. Budget approval will stabilise the coalition until March 2026, enabling further judicial overhauls and policy changes, including the ultra-Orthodox draft exemption and annexation efforts.
On Monday, the Knesset began debating the budget, with the opposition given limited time to present reservations before a near-certain approval on Tuesday. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Netanyahu, possibly buoyed by the budget’s passage, is expected to push for a judicial overhaul, including restructuring the Judicial Appointments Committee. The proposed changes would shift judicial appointments towards political control, removing the justices' veto power and allowing coalition influence over Supreme Court appointments.
Comments1
Rachel Sussman25 March at 08:46 am
The current internal crisis in Israel is indeed worrisome and more dangerous than the outer crisis.
There are clearly political factors interfering with wise choices on all sides.
With this the below factors must be considered:
1. As someone who knows attornies who worked for both Government and the Army, there is a consencus for a long time that changes to the current system are needed to allow today’s and future Government in Israel to function better. The current system is known to have its inadequacies, the thing is that the changes must be done wisely and with discussion.
2. According to law, the Government has the power to choose and dismiss the head of security and the Attorney General. Doing so is not against the law
3. The head of security – Ronen Bar – failed miserably in 7/10. He knew he had to resign or be dismissed eventually especialy in light of the allegation that he failed to advise the PM of the happening on 7/10 as soon as he knew – whether this allegation is true or not is still not clear, just as the Qatar allegations are not clear
3. The Attorney General sadly seem to have lost some of her objective judgement which further inflames the situation
Allowing all these one can pray that common sense will prevail, that the High Court takes matter into its hand, decide wisely and that both the Government and the people abide by it – let us hope and pray.