Israeli Attorney General Warns Ministers to Exercise Restraint During Government Transition

Following the dissolution of the 25th Knesset, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara issued an official letter to government ministers clarifying that the current administration has entered a transitional period of a caretaker government. She emphasized that the special restrictions and rules typical of election periods are now in effect, requiring ministers and government offices to exercise significant restraint in making major decisions.

Baharav-Miara warned against actions that could prioritize narrow partisan interests over the public good or create irreversible facts that would constrain the incoming elected government. She mandated that any decision beyond routine administration must be consulted with her office and the relevant legal advisors before being finalized.

The Attorney General explained that these limitations are not contingent solely on the formal announcement of elections or the Knesset’s dissolution but apply once it is clear that elections are imminent. She referenced recent political discussions about early elections and the preliminary approval of the dissolution bill as factors influencing the legal scrutiny of recent and forthcoming government actions.

The letter also announced that detailed guidelines will soon be published outlining the precise limits on government activities in key areas such as approving government decisions, advancing secondary legislation, appointing senior public officials, distributing financial support, and signing international agreements. Baharav-Miara instructed the government secretariat to ensure that all proposals presented to the government or ministerial committees are accompanied by legal opinions addressing the current restrictions and the need for restraint.

She concluded by offering her office’s availability for any questions and requested that the ministers receive and adhere to this directive during the transitional period.