Reports from various media outlets have painted a picture of mounting internal strife, focusing on disputes involving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, senior security officials, and the country’s judiciary.

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara has found herself at the centre of political battles as key members of Netanyahu’s government push for her dismissal. 

According to The Times of Israel, the attorney general has faced criticism from government officials who accused her of leniency towards anti-government protesters and opposition to legislative changes proposed by the cabinet. 

On Sunday, Minister of Communications Shlomo Karhi called for her immediate removal, citing her alleged failure to prevent incitement and violence following an incident involving flares fired near Netanyahu’s private residence in Caesarea.

Karhi’s social media post described Baharav-Miara’s actions as tantamount to allowing threats against the prime minister to go unchecked. 

He invoked a phrase from Jewish law about self-defence: “If someone comes to kill you, rise up and kill them first,” suggesting that Baharav-Miara should be removed before she causes further damage. 

Opposition Leader Yair Lapid condemned Karhi’s comments, accusing him of inciting violence against the attorney general and calling for Netanyahu to denounce the remarks publicly.

 The Movement for Quality Government in Israel described Karhi’s rhetoric as “serious incitement against the gatekeepers of Israeli democracy.”

Minister of Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli also targeted Baharav-Miara, claiming that her actions have caused “unprecedented damage to the rule of law and public order,” according to The Times of Israel. 

The attorney general has opposed various government initiatives, including a recent proposal to mandate early retirement for long-serving legal advisers. Critics argue this would remove experienced officials perceived as obstacles to the government’s agenda.

Security leadership under fire
 

In another sign of political upheaval, The Jerusalem Post reported that Netanyahu is considering dismissing Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar. 

Although Netanyahu’s office denied any formal discussion of Bar’s removal, media figures closely associated with the prime minister, including Yinon Magal and Shimon Riklin, have called for Bar and IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi to step down.

Sources quoted by The Jerusalem Post noted that Netanyahu had previously contemplated reshuffling key military and security figures, including Halevi and Bar, following Defense Minister Yoav Gallant’s dismissal earlier. 

The Shin Bet, which Bar has led since 2021, has been criticized by Netanyahu’s supporters for handling pre-7 October warnings and investigations involving the prime minister’s spokesperson, Eli Feldstein.

The prospect of dismissing the Shin Bet chief has drawn concerns about the potential consequences for Israel’s security apparatus. 

No Shin Bet chief has ever been removed from office during their term, and such a move would be unprecedented, signalling potential instability within Israel’s intelligence and defence sectors.

Political attacks over military draft exemptions
 

The issue of military draft exemptions for ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students has further inflamed political tensions. 

Opposition Leader Yair Lapid has accused Netanyahu’s government of encouraging “draft evasion and civil uprising” by supporting legislation that maintains these exemptions. 

“When demonstrators in Bnei Brak and Jerusalem shout ‘We will die rather than enlist’ while IDF soldiers die every day, it is a civil uprising,” Lapid said, as reported by The Times of Israel.

Lapid’s remarks come as the Israeli public, particularly reservists and active-duty soldiers, question the government’s commitment to their welfare. 

Lapid linked the government’s priorities to its failure to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza. 

During a Knesset session, he argued that Netanyahu was unwilling to take the necessary political risks to negotiate their return, saying: “The reservists can’t trust you... They are fulfilling their duty; the government is not fulfilling its duty.”

Avigdor Liberman, head of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, also criticized religious leaders supporting draft exemptions. 

Deepening divisions and int'l concerns
 

The internal political strife extends beyond domestic affairs and has potential implications for Israel’s foreign policy and strategic security. 

National Unity chairman Benny Gantz told The Jerusalem Post that Netanyahu appeared more focused on internal power struggles than broader security threats.

“He [Netanyahu] is busy deterring the head of the Shin Bet and the Attorney General more than deterring Iran,” Gantz said, warning that continued political infighting could lead to “a regime coup and severely undermine the deterrence achieved.”

Meanwhile, The Times of Israel highlighted that Netanyahu's government's recent proposals and actions echo themes from its controversial judicial overhaul plan earlier this year. 

Though majorly halted or struck down by the High Court of Justice, the effort sought to grant the executive branch substantial control over the judiciary, fueling fears of diminished checks on government power. 

Justice Minister Yariv Levin has continued criticizing the legal establishment, deepening the rift between the government and key legal and security institutions.

As Netanyahu’s government pushes its legislative and political agenda, it faces growing opposition from centrist and left-leaning factions. 

The Movement for Quality Government and other civic organizations have raised alarms about what they see as an erosion of democratic norms, particularly the targeting of officials like Baharav-Miara and attempts to limit the independence of security agencies.