Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara Refuses to Attend Knesset Security Committee Hearing, Prompting Supreme Court Petition

Knesset Member Tzvika Fogel from Otzma Yehudit has filed a petition with the Israeli Supreme Court against Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara for her repeated refusal to appear at Knesset committee hearings. The latest refusal was to attend a session of the National Security Committee, despite a lawful summons and coordination allowing her to select a convenient date. The State Attorney confirmed he would attend the hearing, but Baharav-Miara declined to appear personally.

The petition argues that both the Basic Law: The Government and Knesset regulations explicitly require all officials summoned to appear before Knesset committees to do so in person, without substitution by representatives. It further claims that the Attorney General's ongoing refusal undermines the committee's ability to oversee government operations and law enforcement effectively.

Fogel criticized Baharav-Miara's conduct as a disregard not only for the Knesset but for the public, especially amid a violent week in Israel. He stated, "The Attorney General again refuses to come to the committee to answer about the fight against serious and organized crime under her responsibility. This behavior shows contempt for the entire public. It is time to put an end to this." The petitioners, attorneys Eran Ben-Ari and Asaf Taklet, emphasized the legal obligation of the Attorney General to be accountable to the Knesset and called on the Supreme Court to affirm that no one is above the law.

The case is now before the Supreme Court, marking an escalation in the conflict between the Knesset and the Attorney General over her accountability and cooperation with parliamentary oversight.