The Israeli Cabinet voted unanimously to dismiss Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, intensifying a power struggle between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the judiciary that critics warn threatens Israel’s democratic institutions. The Supreme Court quickly froze the move while reviewing its legality, after a watchdog group and more than 15,000 citizens filed an emergency petition calling the dismissal illegal and politically motivated. Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption, accuses Baharav-Miara of overstepping her authority by blocking government decisions, while his opponents argue he is undermining judicial independence to consolidate power. The dispute follows the government’s failed 2023 attempt to overhaul the judiciary, which sparked massive protests and, many believe, left the country weakened ahead of the October 7 Hamas attack. Critics say the government changed dismissal rules only after failing to legally remove Baharav-Miara under existing procedures, with watchdogs warning the move dangerously politicizes the role of attorney general.