A political earthquake shook the heart of Israel on Sunday as tens of thousands of citizens flooded the streets of Jerusalem in a powerful display of defiance against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s controversial efforts to oust two of the nation’s most critical gatekeepers of democracy: Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar.
The demonstrators began their march on Aza Street—home to the Prime Minister’s official residence—before surging toward the government complex where Netanyahu's cabinet convened to vote on a resolution that many are calling a brazen assault on Israel’s foundational democratic principles. The target of the vote: a confidence withdrawal from Baharav-Miara, championed by Justice Minister Yariv Levin.
“Breaking the independence of key institutions in the state and dismantling the systems of oversight and restraint on the power of the government will bring us, at lightning speed, to a complete transformation of the country's character,” warned former Supreme Court Justice Ayala Procaccia, as she stood in solidarity with demonstrators.
Thousands in Jerusalem protest vs. Netanyahu’s move to fire Attorney General Baharav-Miara. After firing Shin Bet Head Bar who leads investigation into his inner circle, Netanyahu tries to fire AG whose responsible for the prosecution in his criminal trial #Bibiwants2Badictator https://t.co/Ls2o2xI4CQ
— Dan Arbell (@DanArbell) March 23, 2025
The protests, loud and impassioned, were not merely symbolic—they are a growing warning from Israeli society that they will not sit idly by as democratic checks and balances are dismantled in broad daylight.
Unprecedented Move: Shin Bet Chief Fired in Secret Government Vote
In a historic and deeply alarming move on Friday, Netanyahu’s office announced that the government had unanimously agreed—behind closed doors—to remove Ronen Bar from his post as the head of Israel’s internal security agency, the Shin Bet. This marks the first time in Israel’s history that a Shin Bet chief has been ousted by political decree, sending shockwaves throughout the defense establishment and beyond.
Bar, known for his integrity and unwavering commitment to national security, has been a steady voice of reason amid the political chaos. His abrupt removal is widely seen as retribution for his resistance to politicizing the Shin Bet and for refusing to toe the government’s increasingly authoritarian line.
Netanyahu is so scared that the #Qatargate investigation will reach him personally, or that his innermost circle will turn state's evidence, that he's attempting to fire the director of the Shin Bet.
— Israelis for democracy (@Democrats_IL) March 17, 2025
He will forever be remember as the most incapable, irresponsible and corrupt PM pic.twitter.com/JfsPCqjDgb
Attorney General Targeted for Defending Democratic Oversight
Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, who was appointed in February 2022 for a six-year term, has become a thorn in the side of Netanyahu's government—not because of any wrongdoing, but because she has dared to uphold the law. Since taking office, she has consistently acted as a bulwark against overreach, often clashing with Netanyahu and his ministers on key legal and constitutional issues.
Justice Minister Levin—architect of the controversial judicial overhaul proposals that sparked nationwide protests in 2023—has initiated proceedings to forcibly remove her from office. The government accuses her of harboring “leftist” views, a label used increasingly as a political weapon to discredit any opposition to the coalition’s sweeping agenda.
🚨🇮🇱 ISRAEL ROCKED BY PROTESTS OVER GOV’T MOVES TO OUST TOP OFFICIALS
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) March 23, 2025
For the 6th straight day, crowds flooded Jerusalem streets over plans to fire Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara.
The High Court froze Bar’s dismissal, but ministers are hinting… https://t.co/xrSZiHKD6R pic.twitter.com/lIZ3IgCmuh
One of the central points of contention? Baharav-Miara’s repeated, principled calls for an independent commission of inquiry into the catastrophic failures of October 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists launched a brutal surprise attack on Israel. Netanyahu and his allies staunchly oppose such an investigation, fearing what it may reveal about government unpreparedness and misjudgments.
Context: Renewed Fighting in Gaza as Hamas Breaks Down Negotiations
Meanwhile, as political turmoil rocks Jerusalem, the Israel Defense Forces have resumed their targeted offensive against Hamas in Gaza following the collapse of ceasefire negotiations. Contrary to misleading headlines in international media outlets, Israel did not break the ceasefire or prisoner exchange agreement that began in January.
Hamas, in typical fashion, refused to agree on the next phase of the deal—preferring propaganda victories over peace—and Israel, in accordance with its January commitments, resumed military operations aimed at dismantling Hamas’s remaining capabilities. Hundreds of terrorists have been eliminated since Tuesday, with the IDF continuing its efforts to neutralize one of the most dangerous threats to Israeli civilians.
Thousands protest in Jerusalem as Netanyahu's cabinet meets to vote on firing Attorney-General Baharav-Miara. The move follows outrage over his push to oust Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar. Read more: https://t.co/1O6XwTEbMJ pic.twitter.com/v9kOGR0qEM
— The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) March 23, 2025
A Battle for the Soul of the Nation
What we are witnessing today is not just political drama—it is a struggle for the soul and future of the Jewish state. The forced removal of independent officials, the undermining of judicial institutions, and the silencing of watchdogs are red flags for any democracy. In Israel—a nation founded on the principles of law, justice, and liberty—these are five-alarm fires.
The people of Israel are rising up, not only to protect individual leaders like Baharav-Miara and Bar, but to defend the very essence of Israeli democracy. As one protester’s sign read, “We didn’t survive 2,000 years of exile to become a dictatorship.”
The world should take notice: Israel’s citizens will not give up their democracy without a fight
