Coalition heads cancel meeting on firing AG amid reported lack of support for move

By Sam Sokol 16 December 2024, 5:00 pm

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Sam Sokol is a former political correspondent at The Times of Israel. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara attends the funeral of former judge Elisheva Barak-Ussoskin at Kiryat Shaul Cemetery in Tel Aviv, December 11, 2024.(Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

A planned meeting of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s senior coalition allies on the topic of firing Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara has been canceled at the last minute, Hebrew media reports.

According to the pro-government Channel 14, the cancellation is the result of several ministers backing out and a lack of agreement within the coalition on the issue.

The meeting had been set to serve as a follow-up to a previous gathering on Sunday, during which both Baharav-Miara’s ouster and the revival of the government’s contentious judicial overhaul were discussed.

According to Hebrew media reports, despite significant support among coalition leaders, final decisions on the issues were postponed due to the ultra-Orthodox parties’ demand that the coalition first pass legislation aimed at enshrining in law their constituents’ exemption from military service.

Shas chairman Aryeh Deri, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich were reported to have questioned the wisdom of reviving the overhaul, notably including a far-reaching bill to change the composition of the Judicial Selection Committee, because they believe it would ultimately be overturned by the High Court.

Addressing the Knesset earlier this month, Levin appeared to indicate that there was insufficient support within the cabinet to fire Baharav-Miara and called on ministers who have not yet joined the effort to “come out to the public and tell the truth.”