National Security Minister Ben Gvir Calls for Attorney General Galit Baharav-Miara's Imprisonment in Knesset Speech

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir sharply criticized Attorney General Galit Baharav-Miara during a Knesset plenary session on Wednesday. Speaking amid debates over a bill to split the Attorney General's role, Ben Gvir declared that Baharav-Miara "belongs behind bars," asserting that justice would be served if she were imprisoned. This rare and severe denunciation targeted the senior legal official amid ongoing political tensions.

Ben Gvir also praised the coalition and lawmakers involved in advancing the legislation, including Minister Yariv Levin and Simcha Rothman, emphasizing a shift from years of alleged neglect. He accused Baharav-Miara of representing the opposition and the judicial establishment, claiming her influence is now waning and promising it will diminish further.

His remarks come amid a broader wave of criticism against Baharav-Miara. Professor Moshe Cohen-Eliya recently accused her of bearing responsibility for rising violence in the Arab sector, stating that those who prevent elected officials from exercising power "cannot disappear when failure is measured in bodies." Lawyer Daniel Cohen called for her administrative detention, alleging escalating misconduct and urging investigations, including into her handling of the "Koach 100" affair.

The controversy highlights deep divisions over the role and authority of the Attorney General in Israel's legal and political systems, with the coalition pushing reforms to curtail her powers while opponents warn of undermining judicial independence.