Israel in ‘race to eliminate democratic institutions’ as coalition pushes court bills, says A-G

Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara issued a stark warning Monday, stating that Israel has entered a "race to eliminate democratic institutions." Speaking at the Israel Bar Association's annual conference, she accused the government of normalizing non-compliance with High Court rulings and advancing legislation that would politicize law enforcement.

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If in the past we spoke about democracies falling in small steps, then because of the proximity to the end of the current Knesset’s term, a race to eliminate democratic institutions has begun.

Baharav-Miara described the judicial overhaul as entering a more extreme "second phase," accelerated by the approaching end of the current Knesset's term. She expressed concern over two trends: the growing acceptance of disobeying court rulings and the increasing political control over law enforcement bodies and criminal justice.

Her remarks coincide with the Knesset's movement toward potential dissolution amid a coalition crisis over haredi draft legislation. The coalition's bill to dissolve the Knesset is advancing, with discussions ongoing about a possible election window between September 8 and October 20.

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With the passage of the split law and the Mahash law, the law enforcement system in the State of Israel will completely change its character.

The attorney-general specifically pointed to legislation aimed at splitting her powers and restructuring the Justice Ministry's Police Investigation Department (Mahash). She argued that these bills, despite being framed as technical changes, would fundamentally alter the character of Israel's law enforcement system. Baharav-Miara contends that the proposed "split law" would undermine the professional independence of the attorney-general and chief prosecutor, making them dependent on the political echelon.

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The split law... would crush the professional and independent status of both the attorney-general and the chief prosecutor, turning gatekeepers into officials dependent on the political echelon.