Israel’s haredi factions are set to support a bill dividing the Attorney General’s authority, as the coalition advances parallel legislation expanding rabbinical court jurisdiction.
A new coalition power deal is reshaping Israel’s legal and religious landscape. On Wednesday, the haredi parties are expected to back a controversial bill to divide the sweeping powers of the Attorney General, in exchange for government support for a proposal expanding the authority of rabbinical courts, particularly in alimony and family law.
The legislative maneuver, orchestrated by MK Simcha Rothman (Religious Zionism), would split the Attorney General’s role into three distinct offices:
- Legal Advisor to the Government,
- State Prosecutor, and
- State Representative in Judicial Forums.
Rothman’s proposal argues that this reform is vital to eliminate what he calls “institutional conflicts of interest” that have long paralyzed Israel’s legal system.
“One person cannot simultaneously advise the government, prosecute it, and represent it in court,” the bill’s introduction notes. “Such contradictions weaken both governance and the rule of law.”
The current Attorney General, Gali Baharav-Miara, has fiercely opposed the move, claiming it is politically motivated. In a sharply worded legal opinion submitted during the summer session, she warned:
“There is serious concern of personal interests driving support for this proposal among members of Knesset and ministers under investigation — including the Prime Minister himself.”
Her statement reignited Israel’s long-running debate over the balance of power between the elected government and the unelected legal establishment — a fault line that has defined Israeli politics since the judicial reform battles of 2023–2024.
The Ministerial Committee for Legislation has already approved the bill for a preliminary reading, signaling coalition consensus. In return, the government is expected to approve on Monday a proposal dear to the haredi bloc, which would split an existing bill on rabbinical court reform to ensure rapid advancement of measures expanding rabbinical authority in alimony cases — a key demand of the ultra-Orthodox leadership.
Political analysts view the move as part of a broader realignment of power within Israel’s legal framework. Supporters say it restores democratic accountability by limiting unelected officials’ control, while opponents call it an assault on judicial independence.
Still, the coalition appears determined to press forward. As one senior Likud official put it privately,
“We’re not dismantling the justice system — we’re making it fair. The Attorney General cannot continue being judge, jury, and executioner over elected leaders.”
With Wednesday’s vote likely to pass the bill’s first hurdle, Israel stands on the cusp of a historic legal restructuring — one that could permanently redefine the relationship between the Knesset, the government, and the judiciary.
