Knesset Legal Advisor Warns Security Service Law Draft Replaced Entirely After 86 Meetings

The Knesset's legal advisor, Attorney Shagit Afik, criticized the current draft of the Security Service Law aimed at freezing the detention of yeshiva students and Torah workers. Speaking at the Foreign Affairs and Security Committee on Wednesday, Afik highlighted that the original draft, developed over 86 committee meetings, was effectively replaced by a completely different arrangement that does not align with the original bill's objectives. She emphasized that this change undermines the legislative process's integrity.

Afik explained that while some changes may reflect evolving circumstances or government priorities, the proper way to address new issues related to military recruitment is through a separate, dedicated bill. Due to the Knesset's limited remaining term, the committee replaced the entire original draft with a new framework, which she said barely corresponds to the initial goals. She warned that applying a new arrangement onto the old draft's framework compromises procedural correctness.

The legal advisor also stressed that the Knesset must consider the legislative arrangement as a whole, including sanctions, rather than leaving parts to be determined by the courts. She noted the difficulty of establishing effective enforcement mechanisms within a three-month temporary order, especially since such mechanisms have not been found in the past decade. Afik urged the committee to base its decisions on comprehensive data proving the necessity and urgency of the new provisions.

In conclusion, Afik warned that if the committee votes only on the limited new arrangement, all prior work, including the 86 meetings and drafts, will be nullified without continuity. This would force the next Knesset to restart the legislative process on this issue from scratch.