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.
"According to the planned timetable, it will no longer be the same Israel by Thursday afternoon"
Avi Bar-Eli, Haaretz
The opposition has filed 71,000 reservations to delay the bill, but a negotiated filibuster will likely conclude by Thursday afternoon. If the reforms pass, Israel will have undergone a fundamental transformation within a week, with its judiciary weakened and governance increasingly centralised under the ruling coalition.
Also on Sunday evening, Housing Minister Yitzchak Goldknopf caused a political uproar after a video emerged of the Haredi leader dancing to an anti-Zionist, anti-enlistment song at his nephew’s wedding. This drew calls for his ousting from both coalition and opposition politicians, though Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was quick to praise his key
Leading jurist warns Israel is heading for civil war
Former Israeli Supreme Court Chief Justice Aharon Barak has warned that Israel risks descending into civil war as the government moves to dismiss Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara. Bar’s potential ousting coincides with the security agency’s investigation into the so-called “Qatar-Gate” affair, which reportedly involves members of Netanyahu’s office.
Likud MK Galit Distel Atbaryan, in response, casually dismissed what she described as Barak’s “fantasies about Jewish blood being spilled in the streets” and gloated that the “entire, notorious, and dictatorial life’s work” of Israel’s most respected jurist “is collapsing before your eyes.”
According to a new poll published on Friday, nearly two-thirds of Israelis fear for the country’s democracy. When asked if they were afraid for Israel’s democratic future, 63 per cent of respondents said yes, 33 per cent said no, and 4 per cent were undecided. Among voters who supported coalition parties, 37 per cent expressed concern, compared to 60 per cent who were not worried.
On Sunday, thousands protested in Jerusalem against the government’s plan to dismiss the attorney general and Shin Bet chief. Former Shin Bet head Ami Ayalon addressed the crowd, asking, “At what point will we open our eyes and stop dreaming that Israel is still a democracy?” He accused Netanyahu’s government of stripping Israel of its “Jewish and democratic values.” “When the government fires democracy’s gatekeepers—the head of the Shin Bet and the attorney general—to uphold its rule, we know we are living under a despotic regime,” Ayalon declared. “We are the citizens, and the country is ours. When you come after the gatekeepers, we are the gatekeepers’ gatekeepers! We will defend them with our bodies!” He urged all Israelis to “ascend en masse to Jerusalem, envelop the Knesset, and take part in non-violent resistance.”
“When the government fires democracy’s gatekeepers—the head of the Shin Bet and the attorney general—to uphold its rule, we know we are living under a despotic regime”
Ami Ayalon, Former Shin Bet head
In response, Prime Minister Netanyahu tweeted, “There will be no civil war!” just hours after Aharon Barak expressed fears that the country was heading in that direction. “The State of Israel is a country of law, and according to the law, the Israeli government decides who will be the head of the Shin Bet,” Netanyahu tweeted, before adding, “Shabbat Shalom.”
Shin Bet vs National Security Minister Ben-Gvir
On Monday, reports emerged that the Shin Bet security service investigated National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's political intervention in police work on suspicion of “infiltration by Kahanists,” regarding changes to the status quo on the Temple Mount. According to Channel 12 News, Bar sent a letter on 26 September to senior Shin Bet officials stating that “the spread of Kahanism within law enforcement agencies is a dangerous phenomenon, whose prevention is part of the Shin Bet’s mandate.” The letter added that intelligence gathering should continue regarding “political involvement in directing defence officials to use force in a manner that contradicts the law.”
During a security cabinet meeting on Sunday, Ben-Gvir confronted Ronen Bar, asking if he stood by his directive. Bar denied ordering an investigation into Ben-Gvir, calling reports about him “constant lies.” In response, Ben-Gvir accused Bar of being “a lying, criminal Shin Bet chief that needs to be in prison. He’s spying on political officials, collecting information and evidence, and trying to stage a coup.”
Prime Minister Netanyahu later criticised Bar, stating that while Bar had raised concerns about Kahanist infiltration into police, Netanyahu never authorised him to investigate the matter “behind the national security minister’s back.”
Last week, Netanyahu informed Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar of his dismissal, citing “an ongoing lack of trust.” Bar, who has led the security agency since 2022, is widely seen as a key figure in Israel’s security establishment. Legal experts warn that if the Shin Bet’s broad powers—such as surveillance, privacy invasion, and investigations—are abused in service of the prime minister, civil rights and democracy in Israel could be at risk.
READ MORE
By the week's end it won't be the same Israel anymore: the Netanyahu government's timetable for wrecking democracy (Avi Bar-Eli, Haaretz)
Report: Shin Bet covertly probed Kahanist infiltration into police under Ben Gvir (Times of Israel)
Ex-chief justice Aharon Barak warns: Israel is headed for civil war (Ynetnews)
Legal experts Warn: a Shin Bet chief loyal to Netanyahu would be a threat to democracy (Haaretz)
Poll: 63% of public fears for Israeli democracy as government votes to fire Shin Bet head (Times of Israel)
For Israel, everything will not be okay (David Horovitz, Times of Israel)
Two would-be authoritarians, alike in attacking democracy: The Trump-Netanyahu alliance grows ever more toxic (Dan Perry, The Forward)
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.