Israeli Knesset’s 25th Term Ends Amid Controversial Laws and Procedural Violations
The 25th Knesset of Israel concluded its term early Friday morning, marked by a continuation of its contentious legislative practices. Throughout its final week and entire tenure, the coalition passed draconian laws perceived as undermining the democratic system, favoring certain populations, and imposing burdens on others, while also distributing sector-specific budgets without restraint. A notable feature was the blatant disregard for legal advice from the Knesset and government legal advisors, alongside repeated violations of long-standing parliamentary procedures.
Finance Committee Chairman Hanoch Milwitsky (Likud) broke established protocols by approving budget requests without the required 48-hour advance notice to lawmakers, citing the Knesset’s dissolution as an exceptional reason. Two budget transfers totaling 74 million shekels were approved retroactively, with Milwitsky dismissing the committee legal advisor Shlomit Erlich’s calls for repeated votes. In the plenum, controversial laws such as the freeze on arrests of draft-dodging yeshiva students and the Basic Law on Torah Study were passed in their second and third readings despite professional legal opposition. The Supreme Court swiftly froze the draft-dodger arrest law within 24 hours and scheduled an extended hearing on the Torah Study Basic Law.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushed for these laws before the Knesset’s dissolution to consolidate a right-wing and ultra-Orthodox bloc ahead of elections, ignoring Defense Minister Israel Katz and IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir’s warnings about soldier shortages and the arrest freeze. In exchange, the coalition advanced a law weakening the Attorney General’s authority, allowing ministers to disregard legal counsel, which also faces likely Supreme Court suspension. The Court has already begun reviewing petitions against Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi’s "Broadcasting Law," passed under irregular conditions by a newly formed Communications Committee instead of the Economy Committee, due to internal Likud disputes.
The Communications Committee chair, Galit Distel Atbaryan (Likud), frequently expelled legal advisors and rejected their opinions during the flawed legislative process. Due to ultra-Orthodox opposition to proposed Saturday broadcasts, Karhi removed that provision last minute. Despite the Knesset legal advisor Gagit Afik’s efforts to uphold parliamentary integrity by returning the law to committee after its final readings, the coalition pushed to approve an amendment banning obscene broadcasts without sending the bill back, risking further legal challenges. Overall, the 25th Knesset’s term is widely regarded as one of the worst in Israeli legislative history, characterized by legal breaches and controversial policymaking. The phrase "Blessed be the one who frees us from it" was used to express relief at its end.
