Coalition leaders have reportedly agreed in principle on how to move forward with the controversial firing of Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara.

The effort to oust the attorney general has been pushed for months by far-right coalition lawmakers, but even amid a flurry of reports on Monday regarding developments toward that goal, it is unclear whether the initiative has enough support, given the widespread protests it will likely trigger.

Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, who has been one of the most vocal supporters of the move, failed to secure the support of a majority of ministers in a letter on the subject that he circulated last month.

The Kan public broadcaster said coalition leaders decided during a Monday meeting to begin the process of firing Baharav-Miara by holding a preliminary hearing at a cabinet meeting during which she would be asked to defend her record.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir demanded that the hearing take place at the next cabinet meeting on Sunday, but ministers decided to allow Justice Minister Yariv Levin to decide on the timing, the report said.

No statement was issued to the public about the coalition decision, though, with Kan saying Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and Shas MK Yinon Azoulay asked that the ruling bloc hold off on the move. Sa’ar and Azoulay are considered less hardline figures within the coalition.

Channel 12 reported that the coalition heads decided against issuing a public statement so that the decision would not be perceived as a politically motivated one, given that Ben Gvir had issued an ultimatum threatening to quit the government if Baharav-Miara isn’t fired.

Levin wasn’t even in the room when the decision was made because he stormed out earlier due to frustration with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Hebrew media said.

Smotrich had urged the coalition leaders to........

© The Times of Israel