Lapid's Bid to Block Ambassador Appointments Rejected by Foreign Ministry Legal Advisor

Opposition leader Yair Lapid attempted to halt the appointment of 12 ambassadors by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, citing concerns about "establishing facts on the ground" during an election period. Lapid appealed to the Attorney General for the State, who then directed the matter to the Foreign Ministry's legal advisor.

However, the Foreign Ministry's legal advisor, Tamar Kaplan Turgeman, rejected Lapid's request, stating that Sa'ar had acted in accordance with established procedures. In a pointed response, Kaplan Turgeman reminded Lapid that similar appointments proceeded without issue during his own tenure as Prime Minister and Foreign Minister in previous election periods.

The legal advisor emphasized that the Foreign Ministry continues to promote appointments from its professional diplomatic staff as part of governmental continuity and in accordance with Israel's מדיניות (policy) interests. She noted that this practice has been consistent across recent election periods, including 2013, 2015, 2019, and 2022, and that all actions were in line with regulations and coordinated with the Ministry of Justice and the Civil Service Commission.

Kaplan Turgeman further explained that the appointment process is complex and has long been considered a necessity due to the professional characteristics and unique sensitivities involved. She warned that any delay in the cycle of professional appointments abroad, particularly for heads of missions, would harm the public interest. To provide full context, she referenced Government Decision No. 1883 from October 2, 2022, underscoring that such appointments continued as usual during the last election period when Lapid himself served as Prime Minister and Foreign Minister.