The Israeli government today supported the dismissal of Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara by voting for her a vote of no confidence, DPA reported, citing local media.
The ministers unanimously approved the controversial move in her absence. However, the decision is only the beginning of a longer process and the matter must now be dealt with by a special committee.
Thousands of people protested in Jerusalem against Baharav-Miara's dismissal during the government meeting.
Earlier, the attorney general published a letter stating: "The government wants to be above the law, we will not be hindered".
The government is trying to remove the attorney general because of her repeated opposition to decisions by the political leadership that she considers illegal. Right-wing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies have long accused Israel's judiciary of being too powerful and interfering too much in the work of the executive branch.
Legal experts in Israel have warned that Baharav-Miara's dismissal would threaten the country's democracy.
The Netanyahu government's plans to reorganize the judiciary have led to months of mass protests in 2023 and warnings of an upheaval in Israel's democratic balance.