Knesset Legal Advisor Stands Firm Amid Government Overreach
Shagit Afik, the Knesset's legal advisor, has emerged as a key defender of the legislature against perceived overreach by the government. Afik, who has served the Knesset for 25 years and held her current position for six, was appointed by Yariv Levin. Despite widespread respect, she operates in an environment where the governing coalition frequently bypasses established parliamentary procedures. Afik's role involves navigating the legal department through the coalition's push for judicial overhaul legislation and the opposition's efforts to impede it.
Afik initially favored a secret ballot for the State Comptroller's election but faced criticism for not opposing selfies taken by Likud lawmakers. She withdrew her objection following an agreement between the coalition and opposition for a revote. She supports implementing a Supreme Court ruling mandating another vote, contrary to Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana's stance.
During the previous government's term, Afik was involved in several disputes. She opposed Shlomo Karhi's communications law, which established a committee to circumvent David Bitan's obstruction. She warned that replacing draft evasion laws with legislation freezing the arrest of yeshiva students could lead to the law's collapse. Afik also clashed with the Treasury over delays in passing updated budget and arrangement laws. She criticized the Treasury for withholding Prime Minister's Office funds to pressure the Knesset Finance Committee into retroactively approving payments already made, contrary to Supreme Court decisions. Afik described this action as an "illegal bullying display with no place in public service."
Following revelations that the Treasury transferred one billion shekels to the ultra-Orthodox community without Finance Committee approval, Afik demanded a full accounting of all such transfers in recent years. Concurrently, after the Knesset's dispersal, she permitted the Finance Committee to approve budget transfers, including coalition funds, submitted before the dispersal, though the Supreme Court issued an interim order on some of these.
Afik faces significant opposition from the political right for upholding legal procedures and preventing the government from acting unilaterally. However, she appears resolute in maintaining legal adherence within the Knesset's operations. With the government's attempt to dismiss Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara frozen by the Supreme Court and the ongoing boycott of Supreme Court President Isaac Amit by the government, the Knesset's legal advisor has become one of the last remaining figures resisting what is perceived as a threat to democracy.
