'Nothing' more important than firing A-G, even Gaza hostages, Israeli minister says

Eliyahu doubled down on his comments, stating that "the path to releasing the hostages hinges on a complete military victory."

 Heritage Minister Amihai Eliyahu attends a protest in Tel Aviv, November 27, 2024 (photo credit: MIRIAM ALSTER/FLASH90)
Heritage Minister Amihai Eliyahu attends a protest in Tel Aviv, November 27, 2024
(photo credit: MIRIAM ALSTER/FLASH90)

Heritage Minister Amihai Eliyahu claimed that "nothing," including bringing Gaza hostages home, "is more important than firing" attorney-general Gali Baharav-Miara in a Wednesday evening interview with Army Radio.

In the interview, Eliyahu lamented the lack of priority given to dismissing Baharav-Miara from her role by the cabinet. "This is what we are saying - there is nothing more important than this," the minister said.

The interviewer challenged Eliyahu, asking the minister: "How could you say that while Iran is on the verge of becoming nuclear and while we still have 100 hostages in the Gaza Strip?"

Eliyahu, a member of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's Otzma Yehudit faction, argued that the interviewer was "objectively wrong since the judicial issues in Israel pose a risk to national security."

'We are praying for the miracle of hostage releases'

The minister continued by stating that "we are praying for the miracle of hostage releases...there are those who wish to back Hamas instead of the State of Israel. All those who raise Hamas's expectations in the negotiations are keeping the hostages (in Gaza)."

A-G Gali Baharav-Miara attends the weekly government conference, in Jerusalem's Old City on May 21, 2023 (credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)
A-G Gali Baharav-Miara attends the weekly government conference, in Jerusalem's Old City on May 21, 2023 (credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)

On Thursday, Eliyahu doubled down on his comments given to Army Radio, telling N12 that "those who worry for the hostages must understand that now, more than ever, a clarification is needed on the level of authority possessed by the A-G, the military advocate general (MAG), and the State Attorney's Office.

"The path to releasing the hostages hinges on a complete military victory; to achieve that, one must ensure the overhaul of the judicial system."