State attorney suggests ‘highly irregular’ dismissal of attorney general was against the law

State Attorney Amit Aisman describes the government’s dismissal of Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara yesterday as “highly irregular,” and says the decision to fire her “challenges the principles” of the rule of law in Israel.

In a letter to the employees of the State Attorney’s Office, Aisman says he believes Baharav-Miara’s termination “contravened the law,” and states that the agency he heads will continue to fully cooperate with the attorney general, in accordance with the High Court of Justice ruling yesterday freezing her dismissal until it can rule on petitions against the move.

“The government’s decision to terminate the term of Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara is a highly irregular event and the first of its kind, challenging the fundamental principles of the independence of the prosecutor’s office and the Attorney General’s Office, as well as the rule of law in the State of Israel,” writes Aisman.

Although an attorney general, Yitzhak Zamir, had been fired on one previous occasion by the government, Zamir was dismissed in 1986 before the current process of appointing and firing the attorney general was adopted in 2000.

“The State Attorney’s Office under my leadership will continue to serve the State of Israel and operate as usual and in full cooperation with the attorney general, in accordance with her status and powers under the law, out of a full commitment to maintaining the rule of law, the independence of the prosecutorial system, and the public interest,” says Aisman.