Lapid Asks Attorney General to Freeze Ambassador Appointments Amid Election Period

Opposition leader Yair Lapid has formally requested that the Attorney General, Gali Baharav-Miara, freeze the planned appointment of 12 new ambassadors by Foreign Minister Gidon Sa'ar. Lapid's appeal, submitted through his legal counsel, argues that such appointments should be postponed due to the ongoing election period, citing a directive for caretaker governments to exercise restraint in exercising their powers unless there is public urgency.

The request highlights that most of the proposed ambassadors are slated to begin their terms in the summer of 2027, with one as late as 2028, and emphasizes that the objection is not to the candidates' qualifications but to the timing of the decision. Lapid contends that the move by Sa'ar, just five weeks before elections, aims to obligate the next foreign minister and the Foreign Ministry's professional staff with a decision that is not currently necessary.

Lapid is seeking an urgent opinion from the Attorney General before the appointments committee completes its work. The Foreign Ministry, however, stated that completing these appointments promptly is important to allow diplomats and their families sufficient time for preparation, including school enrollment and relocation logistics, as well as obtaining host country approval. They also noted that the list of vacant representative posts is relatively small compared to previous years and that such appointment procedures have historically continued during election periods, in coordination with the Civil Service Commission and the Ministry of Justice.