Israeli Lawmaker Seeks to Advance Key Sections of Attorney General Split Bill Before Knesset Dissolution

Smicha Rotman, chairman of the Knesset Constitution Committee, announced plans to discuss tomorrow the possibility of splitting the bill to divide the role of the Attorney General into two separate positions. With the Knesset set to dissolve on July 17, Rotman aims to approve the bill's central provisions in committee for second and third readings before that date. These key sections address the legal status of the Attorney General's opinions, oversight mechanisms, and government representation in the Supreme Court.

The full bill, which passed its first reading in early June and is under committee review, proposes separating the Attorney General's role into two distinct offices: Attorney General and State Prosecutor. It suggests transferring criminal law powers related to Knesset members from the Attorney General to the State Prosecutor. Additionally, opening investigations against senior officials, including the Prime Minister and judges, would require district court approval, and indictments would need consent from a special external committee.

The bill has faced sharp criticism from the Attorney General's office. Deputy AG Gil Limon wrote in May to Justice Minister Yariv Levin that the proposals represent a rushed systemic change without proper consultation, raising concerns they serve personal interests linked to ongoing criminal investigations and the identity of the State Prosecutor.

Under the sections Rotman wants to advance, government ministries would treat the Attorney General's opinions as reflecting existing law but could disregard them, releasing executive authorities from compliance obligations. This effectively reduces the Attorney General's stance to advisory status. The Attorney General would be appointed by the government on the recommendation of the Prime Minister and Justice Minister, with tenure matching the appointing government's term. The bill redefines the Attorney General's role as assisting the government in achieving its policy goals within the law, departing from the traditional independent watchdog role.

The government would also be able to represent itself in court without the Attorney General's approval, and some public interest representation powers could be delegated to a deputy not directly subordinate to the Attorney General. The committee will begin discussing the bill split tomorrow, with votes on advanced sections in the coming days, while other parts approved in the first reading will be postponed to the next Knesset term.

Coalition members are pushing to pass the bill before elections, having secured agreements with ultra-Orthodox parties United Torah Judaism and Shas to support this bill and the establishment of a commission investigating the October 7 massacre, in exchange for legislation freezing arrests of draft-dodging yeshiva students and a Basic Law on Torah study.