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 diminishing the powers of the Attorney General (AG). Due to the limited time before the Knesset's dissolution, Rothman introduced a revised version of the legislation that splits the original proposal to expedite its passage.

The updated bill grants the government the ability to have separate legal representation in the Supreme Court (Bagatz), reject the Attorney General's legal opinions, and act without the AG's consent. It also includes provisions to prevent the AG from appearing and arguing cases before the Supreme Court. Additionally, the Minister of Justice will receive enhanced supervisory authority over the Attorney General's work.

This legislative move is significant as it allows the government to override the AG's legal advice, which could impact issues such as sanctions on the ultra-Orthodox community or the AG's ability to present arguments in court. Rothman emphasized that these changes are necessary to advance parts of the law before the Knesset dissolves for upcoming elections.

Alongside this, the coalition is pushing a legislative blitz ahead of the election recess. The committee's discussions reflect a strategic effort to reshape the legal advisory framework within the government before the parliamentary term ends.