Israeli Bill to Split Attorney General Role Faces Time Constraints Before Knesset Dissolution

Sources familiar with the proposed bill to split the role of Israel's Attorney General told Kan News that approving the legislation before the Knesset dissolves will be challenging. The bill requires the Constitution Committee to review hundreds of legal provisions mentioning the Attorney General and decide which new office will handle each. Additionally, the committee must finalize the bill's clauses and address expected objections, all within roughly two and a half weeks before the Knesset's scheduled dissolution.

Despite these hurdles, four committee sessions have been scheduled this week to expedite the bill's progress. Smotrich Party MK Simcha Rothman, chair of the Constitution Committee, expressed confidence that the bill would pass its second and third readings before elections. Earlier this month, the Knesset approved the bill's first reading with 65 votes in favor and 47 against. Originally introduced by MK Michel Buskila, the legislation would allow the government to appoint a new State Prosecutor separate from Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, who could reconsider indictments against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Attorney General Baharav-Miara recently warned at a Bar Association conference that the government is initiating a "race to dismantle democratic institutions" as the current Knesset term nears its end. She cautioned that if several coalition-promoted laws pass, including the Attorney General split and the Police Investigations Department law, Israel's law enforcement system would fundamentally change. She also expressed concern that government officials' calls to disobey court rulings could erode public respect for judicial decisions.

In related developments, MK Tali Gottlieb faces accusations of illegally publishing classified information, and Shin Bet head Ben-Gvir is reportedly delaying appointments, which the Attorney General described as an "abuse of authority."