Knesset Panel Advances Bill to Split the Attorney General’s Role

The Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee approved Sunday, for second and third readings, a bill to split the role of the Attorney General. Under the proposed legislation, which will be brought to a plenum vote, the Attorney General's role would be formally redefined as "a body that assists the government in carrying out its policy and presents it with legal alternatives."

The bill further stipulates that a written legal opinion issued by the Attorney General does reflect an interpretation of existing law, but does not itself constitute binding law or alter it. The government would be granted authority to depart from such an opinion and determine that it does not accurately reflect the law — subject to a reporting requirement to either the Constitution Committee or the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.

The government would additionally hold authority to determine the state's official position in legal proceedings. Should the Attorney General declare an inability to represent the government's position before a court, the government would be permitted to retain outside legal representation through an alternative counsel. In such cases, the Attorney General would be barred from appearing in the same proceeding without explicit government approval. The bill also establishes that the Attorney General would be formally accountable to the government and subject to oversight by the Justice Minister.

If enacted, the law would take effect on January 1, 2027.