Knesset Committee Chair Expels Deputy Attorney General During Debate on Splitting Legal Adviser Role

During a Knesset Constitution Committee session on Tuesday discussing a bill to split the role of the Attorney General, committee chair MK Simcha Rothman expelled Deputy Attorney General Gil Limon from the meeting. Upon returning, Limon warned that granting the government authority to override the Attorney General's legal opinions, including on conflicts of interest and public service ethics, poses serious risks. He stated, "This is not a proposal to split the role but to abolish the Attorney General's position." Deputy Legal Adviser Avital Sompolinsky also cautioned that the proposed model would effectively shut down independent legal advice whenever it displeases the government, undermining professional legal guidance and enabling political pressure and misuse of government budgets. The debate reflects deep concerns about maintaining the independence and integrity of legal counsel within the Israeli government.