Attorney General Faces Conflict-of-Interest Allegations Over Sde Teiman Probe

Israel’s Attorney General, Gali Baharav-Miara, is facing growing calls to step aside from the Sde Teiman investigation, after a watchdog group and a member of Knesset accused her of having a conflict of interest and obstructing the probe.

MK Avichay Boaron and the Lavi organization, who petitioned the Supreme Court against her, argue that Baharav-Miara cannot oversee an inquiry that may examine her own office’s conduct. Their petition demands that she recuse herself from all decisions related to the case, which involves former military prosecutors suspected of leaking classified material from the Sde Teiman detention facility.

The petitioners released a sharp statement after Baharav-Miara asked the Supreme Court for more time to respond to their case. “Although Justice Sohlberg gave her 36 hours, she chose to ask for another delay,” they said. “For years she has ignored the government, disregarded the Knesset, and now humiliates the Supreme Court after submitting a false affidavit.”

Their criticism followed a Channel 12 report that the Justice Ministry’s legal adviser had issued an internal opinion declaring Baharav-Miara in a “severe conflict of interest” and recommending she step aside. The report said the investigation could be reassigned to a retired judge under the Justice Ministry’s authority.

The conflict-of-interest claim focuses on Baharav-Miara’s office having previously taken part in decisions about the same investigation. Critics say that because she or her subordinates may have influenced how evidence was handled or what was communicated to the Supreme Court, she cannot now supervise an inquiry that could review those actions.

Deputy Supreme Court President Noam Sohlberg approved her request for an extension until 10 p.m. Thursday to file her response, after she missed an earlier noon deadline.

The Sde Teiman case has drawn intense scrutiny since the arrest of former chief military prosecutor Col. Matan Solomosh and former Military Advocate General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi  earlier this week on suspicion of obstructing a police investigation. Petitioners argue that Baharav-Miara’s continued involvement threatens the integrity of that probe.

Boaron and Lavi accused the Attorney General of “contaminating” the process and causing “the loss of critical evidence.” In their words: “In a proper reality, she would have recused herself. What are you hiding, Gali? Are you part of the cover-up surrounding the Military Advocate General?”

They praised the Justice Ministry opinion as confirmation of their concerns, comparing the affair to the “Line 300” scandal — a reference to a historic Israeli case involving official misconduct and cover-ups in the 1980s.

As of Thursday evening, Baharav-Miara had yet to file her official response. The Supreme Court is expected to decide whether to move forward with a hearing once it is received.