From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, July 18, 2023
AG: Government attorneys pressured to take specific steps in criminal cases, and to adopt certain legal positions
Jeremy Sharon is The Times of Israel’s legal affairs and settlements reporter
In a bombshell speech, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara alleges that pressure has been exerted on her office to take specific action in criminal cases being managed by the State Attorney’s Office and in criminal investigations.
Speaking to officials in the State Attorney’s Office, Baharav-Miara further alleges that pressure has also been brought to bear on her office to adopt specific positions with regards to the formal legal positions taken by government legal advisers under her aegis on government legislation and decisions.
She doesn’t offer details on either allegation.
“Pressure has been exerted against us to make certain decisions in concrete cases that you are managing or in investigative cases that you are examining,” she says to the officials.
“Also in legal advice, pressure has been exerted against us to slant our professional judgment and violate our duty as gatekeepers,” the attorney general continues.
“I will not be deterred. I know that the State Attorney is not deterred either, and that neither are you all. We will continue to operate as always. According to the facts, according to the law, consistently and equitably.”
Baharav-Miara was castigated earlier this month by members of the cabinet for what they alleged was the failure of her office and other law enforcement agencies to deal severely enough with anti-government protesters over the last six months.
The attorney general said then and in a subsequent position paper that there could be no quotas for how many people should be arrested in protests or indicted as a result.
