Israel’s Top Court Blocks Government Attempt to Fire Attorney General Amid Netanyahu Trial

Israel’s High Court has stepped in to freeze a government decision to fire Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara — a dramatic move that highlights the intensifying political fight within Israel’s far-right government.

The court’s emergency injunction came just hours after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet voted unanimously to remove Baharav-Miara, who is overseeing the corruption case against Netanyahu himself.

Justice Minister Yariv Levin announced the cabinet’s decision with a scathing letter, telling Baharav-Miara she “should not try to impose herself on a government that has no trust in her.”

But the pushback was immediate.

Opposition lawmakers and civil society groups, including the Movement for Quality Government in Israel, filed urgent appeals to the High Court. They warned the move was blatantly political, aimed at undermining the independence of the justice system — and removing the one person holding Netanyahu legally accountable.

The High Court responded by suspending the dismissal, blocking the government from appointing a replacement or limiting Baharav-Miara’s authority while the matter is under review. A formal hearing will take place within 30 days.

The backlash didn’t stop with court filings. Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, a close Netanyahu ally, openly declared the court’s decision “invalid” and vowed not to comply, calling for Baharav-Miara to be replaced immediately.

Baharav-Miara, in a rare public statement, said the dismissal was “illegal” and warned that “political pressures and actions contrary to law” would not stop her from doing her job with “professionalism and integrity.”

The showdown highlights the growing tension between Israel’s judicial system and its far-right coalition, especially as Netanyahu faces multiple criminal charges — and as public trust in democratic institutions continues to fracture.