Freddy Eytan
Israel Hayom, Mar. 25, 2025
“… the procedure to force the dismissal of the current Attorney General is a purely political act and contrary to the fundamental principle of the separation of powers.”
Three days after the dismissal of Shin Beit chief Ronen Bar, the Israeli cabinet voted on a motion of no confidence in his legal advisor, Gali Baharav-Miara. Following petitions, the High Court of Justice decided to freeze the dismissals to thoroughly examine this unprecedented case. For now, we do not know what steps will be taken and how the government will react if the Supreme Court decides to retain these two senior officials.
The standoff between the executive and judicial branches has suddenly escalated. It has provoked a public outcry and massive daily demonstrations in the streets of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. This explosive situation threatens to spark violent clashes in public squares and weaken Israel’s resilience in times of war.
For decades, Israeli society has been tragically divided, torn between right and left. This time, however, all sectors are affected by this divide: the IDF, the police, the Shin Beit, and the Mossad are not spared. These institutions are symbols of national cohesion and yet must be kept out of political discourse.
Already in January 2023, the judicial reform had provoked waves of popular protests. They were justified because for the first time, the sacrosanct nature of the Jewish nation, which had given humanity the Tablets of the Law, had been touched. The good faith of the judges in Jerusalem was questioned, and all those comfortably seated in the Supreme Court were deeply offended. This reform stung honorable judges, respected throughout the world. Fortunately, it was frozen.
This reform quickly turned into a universal debate, which proves that, beyond the Arab-Israeli conflict, Israeli democracy remains alive and a subject for reflection, a considerable asset for the free world. ….SOURCE