Israeli Parliament Committee Advances Bill to Weaken Attorney General's Role Before Elections

The Knesset's Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, chaired by Smotrich-affiliated MK Simcha Rothman, convened on July 5, 2026, to discuss an updated bill aimed at weakening the powers of the Attorney General (AG). Due to the limited time before the Knesset's dissolution, Rothman introduced a revised version of the bill that splits the legislation to expedite its passage. The updated proposal would allow the government to have separate legal representation in the Supreme Court, reject the AG's legal opinions, and act without the AG's consent. It also grants the Justice Minister increased oversight over the AG's work.

This legislative change marks a significant shift, enabling the government to override the Attorney General's advice, including on sensitive issues such as sanctions on ultra-Orthodox communities or preventing the AG from presenting arguments in the Supreme Court. The bill specifically permits the government to prevent the AG from appearing and arguing cases before the Supreme Court, a power not previously held.

The move is part of a broader legislative push by the coalition ahead of the upcoming election recess. Rothman emphasized the urgency due to the short time remaining before the Knesset dissolves. The key elements retained in the updated bill include the government's ability to obtain separate Supreme Court representation, block the AG from court appearances, reject the AG's legal opinions, and enhance the Justice Minister's supervisory powers over the AG.