Israel's Attorney-General Warns of Threats to Democracy Amid Legislative Changes
Israel in ‘race to eliminate democratic institutions’ as coalition pushes court bills, says A-G
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Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara expressed concerns over Israel's government actions that threaten democratic institutions, particularly through proposed legislation affecting law enforcement and judicial independence. She highlighted the normalization of disobedience to court rulings and the potential politicization of law enforcement as critical issues facing the country.
- 01Gali Baharav-Miara warned of a 'race to eliminate democratic institutions' due to government actions.
- 02The Knesset is moving towards possible dissolution amid coalition crises, with a bill for its dissolution already under consideration.
- 03Proposed legislation includes splitting the attorney-general's powers and changing the Police Investigation Department, which could politicize law enforcement.
- 04Baharav-Miara emphasized that citizens would feel the impact of these changes in everyday situations, such as protests and public gatherings.
- 05She noted that the government's non-compliance with court rulings could lead to a public perception that court judgments are non-binding.
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During a speech at the Israel Bar Association's annual conference, Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara raised alarms about the Israeli government's actions, which she claims threaten the country's democratic institutions. She described the current legislative environment as a 'race to eliminate democratic institutions,' particularly highlighting the normalization of disobedience to High Court rulings. The Knesset is facing potential dissolution amid a coalition crisis, with a bill already approved for its first reading. Baharav-Miara pointed to two troubling trends: the proposed split of the attorney-general's powers and changes to the Police Investigation Department, which she argues would lead to political control over law enforcement. She warned that these changes would be felt by citizens in their daily lives, particularly during protests and public events. Furthermore, she criticized the government's attempts to undermine court rulings, suggesting that such actions could erode public trust in the judiciary. Baharav-Miara concluded by asserting that public-sector lawyers would resist any attempts to normalize violations of court rulings or politicization of law enforcement.
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The proposed legislation could significantly alter the relationship between law enforcement and the government, affecting how laws are enforced in Israel.
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