[80423] Political Drama: The Knesset approved in a first reading the splitting of the Attorney General's role and the dissolution of the Knesset
[80423] Political Drama: The Knesset approved in a first reading the splitting of the Attorney General's role and the dissolution of the Knesset
The Knesset approved tonight in a first reading the bill to split the powers of the Attorney General, alongside the approval of the bill to dissolve the 25th Knesset on the way to new elections.
A dramatic night in the Knesset: Advancing judicial reform and dissolving the Knesset
In a series of night votes, the Knesset plenum approved a series of significant laws in a first reading. According to Dafna Liel, the plenum approved with a majority of 65 supporters against 47 opponents the law to split the Attorney General's role and weaken it. The new law seeks to allow the government to appoint a legal advisor without a search committee, and to determine that their legal opinion will not be binding on the government. In addition, a special track was established for indicting politicians that will require the approval of a district judge.
Political disagreements
Hot News, identified with support for the move, quoted the Shas faction which defined the step as "a necessary step to reduce the excessive and aggressive power that the Attorney General and the anarchists have taken for themselves." On the other hand, ynet news presented an approach that classifies the move as a subject of criticism, emphasizing the polarization surrounding the government's attempts to change the structure of the judicial system.
Justice Minister Yariv Levin welcomed the approval, and noted as reported by Ariel Kahana that the move "will ensure the government's ability to appoint a legal advisor who will act to assist it." Conversely, the initiator of the proposal, MK Eliyahu Revivo, argued that the goal is "to fix a distortion that has lasted for years" and to separate advice from criminal enforcement, according to the report in Hot News.
The road to elections
At the same time, the bill for the dissolution of the 25th Knesset was approved in a first reading, with an overwhelming majority of 106 supporters and no opponents, according to a News Online report. The Chairman of the House Committee, MK Ofir Katz, noted that "we have completed four full years," and added that the political system is now preparing for a snap election campaign, with the date of the elections for the 26th Knesset expected to fall between September and October 2026. The Central Elections Committee is expected to go on high alert in order to complete the preparations on a shortened schedule.