The move was expected. It has nonetheless provoked as much anger as concern. On Sunday, March 23, the cabinet of the most radical government in the country's history unanimously passed a motion of no confidence in the attorney general, paving the way for her potential dismissal. The resolution accuses the lawyer of "inappropriate conduct" and "substantial differences of opinion."

Gali Baharav-Miara is also the government's legal adviser. The body she heads advises on bills presented to the Knesset, the Israeli parliament. Absent from the meeting, she responded to the dismissal procedure with a letter addressed to the cabinet: "When the legal advice system presents the government with the boundaries of the law it is doing its job, and it cannot be claimed that these are differences of opinion which are cause to dismiss." Baharav-Miara concluded that "the government seeks to be above the law and to operate without checks and balances." University professors, former Supreme Court judges and all former attorneys general support her.

Following the dismissal – announced on March 20 but suspended by the Israeli Supreme Court – of Ronen Bar, head of domestic intelligence service Shin Bet, Sunday's move is the latest attack by the government on Israeli institutions. It's pitting supposed legitimacy against established legality, force against law.

You have 79.7% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.