Attorney Hagai Harosh, senior assistant to Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, refrained from handling the Chief Military Advocate General’s case from the outset, due to the Attorney General’s Office being involved in several aspects of the affair - including responses to the High Court of Justice and the investigation into the leak of the Sde Teiman video.
However, according to a report by Avishai Grinzaig on i24 News, when Baharav-Miara asked the Ministry of Justice’s legal adviser, Attorney Yael Kotik, to assess whether she herself had a conflict of interest, she did not disclose that her senior assistant had already stepped aside. The recusal of Deputy State Attorney Adv. Altman was also not mentioned.
The request for Kotik’s opinion was submitted only after warning letters and petitions had already reached the High Court. Even earlier, the Attorney General refused to withdraw from the case and instructed the Chief of Staff to work with her directly. According to the report, after receiving Kotik’s opinion, she appended a “judgmental” document criticizing its quality.
During the High Court hearing, the Attorney General’s representative likewise did not inform the judges that senior officials in the office had recused themselves.
The report further reveals that Deputy Chief of Staff Brig. Gen. Gal Asael testified that he acted throughout in coordination with the Attorney General’s Office. He stated that he received instructions from Adv. Hagai Harosh, who, according to Asael, was acting on behalf of Attorney General Baharav-Miara.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir responded: “I have said from the beginning - with full knowledge that Gali Baharav-Miara is personally, deeply involved in submitting false affidavits to the High Court, in concealing the investigation, and in actively obstructing investigative proceedings. It will not help her or those who try to cover up these details. She will be required to face investigation and stand trial for the criminal offenses she committed.”