Netanyahu Vows to Replace Attorney General if Re-elected

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged on Sunday that if he wins the upcoming elections, he will move to replace Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara before her term ends. In an interview with Radio Galai Israel, Netanyahu stated, "Clearly she will be replaced," and confirmed that this would occur even before her scheduled departure. He argued that the government has advanced key appointments over the past year, such as David Zini as Shin Bet chief and Roman Gofman as Mossad chief, despite opposition from the Attorney General and what he termed the "deep state." Netanyahu emphasized the need to restore balance between the legislative, elected, and judicial branches, promising to find a "real legal advisor, not the parody that has now been revealed."

Netanyahu also addressed criticism regarding his recent remarks on cryptocurrency and potential sanctions. He clarified that his comments were hypothetical, discussing future scenarios rather than making commitments. "I answered a question about what to do in a hypothetical future situation. I did not say that this is what is going to happen," he stated, adding that Israel has about twenty potential measures, some already successfully implemented. He also defended Israel's economic performance, citing an IMF forecast predicting the highest growth among OECD countries, and credited his work with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

Regarding his request for a meeting with Police Commissioner Dany Levy, Netanyahu reiterated that the purpose was security-related, aiming to understand preparations against attempts to disrupt elections from both external enemies and internal elements. He expressed concern about ensuring citizens can vote without interference. Earlier, the Chairman of the Central Elections Committee, Judge Noam Solberg, rejected a petition against the meeting, noting Netanyahu's assurance that it would not concern election integrity. However, Solberg clarified that the authority to instruct the police on such matters does not lie with the Prime Minister or the National Security Minister.

Earlier comments by Netanyahu on Friday, suggesting Israel prepare for economic sanctions, possibly involving the banking system and cryptocurrency as an alternative, drew criticism from the opposition and a response from the Bank of Israel. The Bank of Israel clarified that cryptocurrencies cannot bypass sanctions and stressed the importance of maintaining economic relations with key trading partners to prevent negative impacts on the economy.