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Status of the Attorney General

Should the government be allowed to act against the Attorney General's legal opinion?

The government decides
A legal opinion is advice; the decision belongs to elected officials, who answer to the voters
Keep legal advice independent
Protecting the independence of legal advice and its binding status, as a check on the abuse of government power

Most of the votes here are preliminary readings of coalition bills from a single day in October 2025, which the opposition rejected as a bloc. The decisive votes are the first reading of the Attorney General and Chief Prosecutor bill (June 2026) and the third reading of the legal opinions and representation law (July 2026).

"Said" is the platform, and statements and posts by the list's candidates. "Did" is plenum votes, bills and recorded acts in the 25th Knesset. The placement rests on all the evidence together. The votes are the outgoing Knesset's, not the 26th's.

BeYachad

Firm position: Keep legal advice independent· Partial evidence

Said

  • 1 tweet · 1 toward "Keep legal advice independent"
הם יפטרו את היועצת המשפטית שהצליחה לבלום את זה

Translation: “They will fire the legal adviser who managed to block this”

נועם תיבוןSeptember 29, 2026Source ↗

Did

  • 7 plenum votes · 7 toward "Keep legal advice independent"

24 of the list's MKs voted: 0 for, 24 against. For = to change the status of the Attorney General through legislation

July 15, 2026The vote

The parliamentary record here is that of the Yesh Atid faction in the 25th Knesset. Naftali Bennett's party did not sit in the 25th Knesset, so part of the current list is not represented in the voting data.

All sources (8)

BeYachad

Firm position: Keep legal advice independent

Partial evidence
What it rests on

Toward "The government decides"Toward "Keep legal advice independent"

Note: The parliamentary record here is that of the Yesh Atid faction in the 25th Knesset. Naftali Bennett's party did not sit in the 25th Knesset, so part of the current list is not represented in the voting data.

7 plenum votes · Official record
  • Toward: Keep legal advice independentJuly 15, 2026

    24 of the list's MKs voted: 0 for, 24 against. For = to change the status of the Attorney General through legislation

  • Toward: Keep legal advice independentJune 2, 2026

    23 of the list's MKs voted: 0 for, 23 against. For = to change the appointment, tenure and powers of the Attorney General

  • Toward: Keep legal advice independentJune 1, 2026

    23 of the list's MKs voted: 0 for, 23 against. For = to split, in a Basic Law, the powers of the Attorney General between a prosecutor general and a legal adviser

The Democrats

Firm position: Keep legal advice independent· Partial evidence

Said

  • 1 platform section · 1 toward "Keep legal advice independent"
  • 1 statement in the media · 1 toward "Keep legal advice independent"
נעגן בחוק את עצמאות הייעוץ המשפטי והמעמד המחייב של חוות הדעת המשפטית, נבטיח הליכי מינוי מקצועיים ושקופים לתפקידים בכירים, ונגן על שומרי הסף מפני לחצים פוליטיים.

Translation: “We will enshrine in law the independence of legal advice and the binding status of legal opinions, ensure professional and transparent appointment procedures for senior positions, and protect the gatekeepers from political pressures.”

The Democrats, Democracy and Law PlanSource ↗

Did

  • 7 plenum votes · 7 toward "Keep legal advice independent"
  • 2 bills on the issue · Context only, did not move the placement

4 of the list's MKs voted: 0 for, 4 against. For = to change the status of the Attorney General through legislation

July 15, 2026The vote

The parliamentary record here is that of the Labor faction in the 25th Knesset. Meretz did not sit in the 25th Knesset, so part of the current list is not represented in the voting data.

All sources (10)

The Democrats

Firm position: Keep legal advice independent

Partial evidence
What it rests on

Toward "The government decides"Toward "Keep legal advice independent"

Note: The parliamentary record here is that of the Labor faction in the 25th Knesset. Meretz did not sit in the 25th Knesset, so part of the current list is not represented in the voting data.

7 plenum votes · Official record
  • Toward: Keep legal advice independentJuly 15, 2026

    4 of the list's MKs voted: 0 for, 4 against. For = to change the status of the Attorney General through legislation

  • Toward: Keep legal advice independentJune 2, 2026

    4 of the list's MKs voted: 0 for, 4 against. For = to change the appointment, tenure and powers of the Attorney General

  • Toward: Keep legal advice independentJune 1, 2026

    4 of the list's MKs voted: 0 for, 4 against. For = to split, in a Basic Law, the powers of the Attorney General between a prosecutor general and a legal adviser

Likud

Firm position: The government decides· Strong evidence

Said

  • 1 statement in the media · 1 toward "The government decides"
לא עוד כפיפות של הממשלה לדרג לא נבחר. היועצים המשפטיים כשמם כן הם, יועצים ולא מחליטים.

Translation: “No more subordination of the government to an unelected echelon. Legal advisers are as their name says, advisers and not deciders.”

ynetJanuary 4, 2023Source ↗

Did

  • 7 plenum votes · 7 toward "The government decides"
  • 12 bills on the issue · 4 toward "The government decides" · 1 context only

29 of the list's MKs voted: 29 for, 0 against. For = to change the status of the Attorney General through legislation

July 15, 2026The vote

All sources (13)

Likud

Firm position: The government decides

Strong evidence
What it rests on

Toward "The government decides"Toward "Keep legal advice independent"

7 plenum votes · Official record

The Reservists – The Economic Party

Leaning toward The government decides· Weak evidence

Said

  • 1 platform section · 1 toward "The government decides"
פיצול תפקידי היועמ"ש.

Translation: “Splitting the Attorney General's roles.”

The Reservists, platform highlightsSource ↗

Did

The list did not sit in the 25th Knesset, so it has no votes to check.

All sources (1)

The Reservists – The Economic Party

Leaning toward The government decides

Weak evidence
What it rests on

Toward "The government decides"Toward "Keep legal advice independent"

1 platform section · Published in the list's name
  • Toward: The government decides

    ״פיצול תפקידי היועמ"ש.״

    Translated from Hebrew: “Splitting the Attorney General's roles.”

    From the platform the list published.

Religious Zionism–Zehut

Firm position: The government decides· Strong evidence

Said

  • 1 platform section · 1 toward "The government decides"
  • 1 statement in the media · 1 toward "The government decides"
  • 1 tweet · 1 toward "The government decides"
היועץ המשפטי לממשלה יהיה יועץ בלבד, תפקידו יופרד מראש התביעה, והוא ימונה, ייבחר ויפוטר בידי הממשלה.

Translation: “The Attorney General will be an adviser only, his role will be separated from the head of the prosecution, and he will be appointed, selected and dismissed by the government.”

Zehut platformSource ↗

Did

  • 7 plenum votes · 7 toward "The government decides"
  • 5 bills on the issue · 2 toward "The government decides" · 1 context only

7 of the list's MKs voted: 7 for, 0 against. For = to change the status of the Attorney General through legislation

July 15, 2026The vote

The current list is a technical bloc of Religious Zionism with Zehut, led by Moshe Feiglin, which did not sit in the 25th Knesset. The voting data reflects Religious Zionism only.

All sources (13)

Religious Zionism–Zehut

Firm position: The government decides

Strong evidence
What it rests on

Toward "The government decides"Toward "Keep legal advice independent"

Note: The current list is a technical bloc of Religious Zionism with Zehut, led by Moshe Feiglin, which did not sit in the 25th Knesset. The voting data reflects Religious Zionism only.

7 plenum votes · Official record

Joint List

Firm position: Keep legal advice independent· Partial evidence

Said

We found no platform text, statement or post by the list on this subject.

Did

  • 7 plenum votes · 7 toward "Keep legal advice independent"

4 of the list's MKs voted: 0 for, 4 against. For = to change the status of the Attorney General through legislation

July 15, 2026The vote

The parliamentary record here is that of the Hadash–Ta'al faction in the 25th Knesset only. Balad did not sit in the 25th Knesset, so part of the current list is not represented in the voting data.

All sources (7)

Joint List

Firm position: Keep legal advice independent

Partial evidence
What it rests on

Toward "The government decides"Toward "Keep legal advice independent"

Note: The parliamentary record here is that of the Hadash–Ta'al faction in the 25th Knesset only. Balad did not sit in the 25th Knesset, so part of the current list is not represented in the voting data.

7 plenum votes · Official record
  • Toward: Keep legal advice independentJuly 15, 2026

    4 of the list's MKs voted: 0 for, 4 against. For = to change the status of the Attorney General through legislation

  • Toward: Keep legal advice independentJune 2, 2026

    3 of the list's MKs voted: 0 for, 3 against. For = to change the appointment, tenure and powers of the Attorney General

  • Toward: Keep legal advice independentJune 1, 2026

    3 of the list's MKs voted: 0 for, 3 against. For = to split, in a Basic Law, the powers of the Attorney General between a prosecutor general and a legal adviser

United Torah Judaism

Firm position: The government decides· Strong evidence

Said

  • 1 tweet · 1 toward "The government decides"
יועצת משפטית שהממשלה החליטה להעביר מתפקידה, והיא ממשיכה לפעול בנושאים שאין לה סמכות לעסוק בהם. היא חצופה, מושחתת ופועלת בניגוד לחוק.

Translation: “A legal adviser whom the government decided to remove from her post, and she continues to act on matters she has no authority to deal with. She is insolent, corrupt and acting in violation of the law.”

משה גפניAugust 18, 2026Source ↗

Did

  • 7 plenum votes · 7 toward "The government decides"

7 of the list's MKs voted: 7 for, 0 against. For = to change the status of the Attorney General through legislation

July 15, 2026The vote

All sources (8)

United Torah Judaism

Firm position: The government decides

Strong evidence
What it rests on

Toward "The government decides"Toward "Keep legal advice independent"

7 plenum votes · Official record

Yashar!

Firm position: Keep legal advice independent· Partial evidence

Said

We found no platform text, statement or post by the list on this subject.

Did

  • 7 votes by the list's candidates in the outgoing Knesset · 7 toward "Keep legal advice independent"

3 of the list's candidates who served in the 25th Knesset voted: 0 for, 3 against. For = to change the status of the Attorney General through legislation

July 15, 2026The vote

All sources (7)

Yashar!

Firm position: Keep legal advice independent

Partial evidence

The votes here are the personal votes of the list's candidates who served in the 25th Knesset, not votes by the list.

What it rests on

Toward "The government decides"Toward "Keep legal advice independent"

7 votes by the list's candidates in the outgoing Knesset · Official record
  • Toward: Keep legal advice independentJuly 15, 2026

    3 of the list's candidates who served in the 25th Knesset voted: 0 for, 3 against. For = to change the status of the Attorney General through legislation

  • Toward: Keep legal advice independentJune 2, 2026

    3 of the list's candidates who served in the 25th Knesset voted: 0 for, 3 against. For = to change the appointment, tenure and powers of the Attorney General

  • Toward: Keep legal advice independentJune 1, 2026

    3 of the list's candidates who served in the 25th Knesset voted: 0 for, 3 against. For = to split, in a Basic Law, the powers of the Attorney General between a prosecutor general and a legal adviser

Yisrael Beytenu

Firm position: Keep legal advice independent· Partial evidence

Said

We found no platform text, statement or post by the list on this subject.

Did

  • 7 plenum votes · 7 toward "Keep legal advice independent"

6 of the list's MKs voted: 0 for, 6 against. For = to change the status of the Attorney General through legislation

July 15, 2026The vote

All sources (7)

Yisrael Beytenu

Firm position: Keep legal advice independent

Partial evidence
What it rests on

Toward "The government decides"Toward "Keep legal advice independent"

7 plenum votes · Official record
  • Toward: Keep legal advice independentJuly 15, 2026

    6 of the list's MKs voted: 0 for, 6 against. For = to change the status of the Attorney General through legislation

  • Toward: Keep legal advice independentJune 2, 2026

    4 of the list's MKs voted: 0 for, 4 against. For = to change the appointment, tenure and powers of the Attorney General

  • Toward: Keep legal advice independentJune 1, 2026

    4 of the list's MKs voted: 0 for, 4 against. For = to split, in a Basic Law, the powers of the Attorney General between a prosecutor general and a legal adviser

Otzma Yehudit

Firm position: The government decides· Strong evidence

Said

  • 1 platform section · 1 toward "The government decides"
  • 2 tweets · 2 toward "The government decides"
פיטורים מיידיים של היועמ"שית, כצעד הראשון בהקמת הממשלה הבאה

Translation: “Immediate dismissal of the Attorney General, as the first step in forming the next government”

ynetSeptember 22, 2026Source ↗

Did

  • 7 plenum votes · 7 toward "The government decides"
  • 4 bills on the issue · 1 toward "The government decides" · 1 context only

6 of the list's MKs voted: 6 for, 0 against. For = to change the status of the Attorney General through legislation

July 15, 2026The vote

All sources (12)

Otzma Yehudit

Firm position: The government decides

Strong evidence
What it rests on

Toward "The government decides"Toward "Keep legal advice independent"

7 plenum votes · Official record

Amcha Yisrael

Leaning toward The government decides· Partial evidence

Said

  • 1 platform section · 1 toward "The government decides"
  • 1 tweet · 1 toward "The government decides"
נקדם את חלוקת תפקיד היועץ המשפטי לממשלה - לתובע כללי עצמאי ולייעוץ המשפטי לממשלה, שיסייע לה לקדם את מדיניותה במסגרת החוק.

Translation: “We will advance the division of the role of the Attorney General - into an independent attorney general and legal advice to the government, which will help it advance its policies within the framework of the law.”

Amcha Yisrael, founding principles documentSource ↗

Did

The list did not sit in the 25th Knesset, so it has no votes to check.

All sources (2)

Amcha Yisrael

Leaning toward The government decides

Partial evidence
What it rests on

Toward "The government decides"Toward "Keep legal advice independent"

1 platform section · Published in the list's name
  • Toward: The government decides

    ״נקדם את חלוקת תפקיד היועץ המשפטי לממשלה - לתובע כללי עצמאי ולייעוץ המשפטי לממשלה, שיסייע לה לקדם את מדיניותה במסגרת החוק.״

    Translated from Hebrew: “We will advance the division of the role of the Attorney General - into an independent attorney general and legal advice to the government, which will help it advance its policies within the framework of the law.”

    From the platform the list published.

Ra'am

Firm position: Keep legal advice independent· Partial evidence

Said

  • 6 tweets · 6 toward "Keep legal advice independent"
לא יהיה שום פיקוח אפקטיבי על עבודת השב"כ והמשטרה. לכל חוות דעת של היועץ המשפטי לממשלה, הממשלה תוכל לקבל החלטה שלא נראית לה

Translation: “There will be no effective oversight of the work of the Shin Bet and the police. For every legal opinion of the Attorney General, the government will be able to make a decision it does not like”

יואב סגלוביץ'July 5, 2026Source ↗

Did

  • 7 plenum votes · 7 toward "Keep legal advice independent"

5 of the list's MKs voted: 0 for, 5 against. For = to change the status of the Attorney General through legislation

July 15, 2026The vote

All sources (13)

Ra'am

Firm position: Keep legal advice independent

Partial evidence
What it rests on

Toward "The government decides"Toward "Keep legal advice independent"

7 plenum votes · Official record
  • Toward: Keep legal advice independentJuly 15, 2026

    5 of the list's MKs voted: 0 for, 5 against. For = to change the status of the Attorney General through legislation

  • Toward: Keep legal advice independentJune 2, 2026

    5 of the list's MKs voted: 0 for, 5 against. For = to change the appointment, tenure and powers of the Attorney General

  • Toward: Keep legal advice independentJune 1, 2026

    5 of the list's MKs voted: 0 for, 5 against. For = to split, in a Basic Law, the powers of the Attorney General between a prosecutor general and a legal adviser

Shas

Firm position: The government decides· Strong evidence

Said

  • 1 tweet · 1 toward "The government decides"
חוק פיצול היועמ"שית שיעלה הערב, הוא עוד חלק בתיקון שנעשה כאן במסגרת הרפורמה המשפטית

Translation: “The law splitting the Attorney General's role, which will come up this evening, is another part of the correction being made here as part of the judicial reform”

יואב בן צורJuly 15, 2026Source ↗

Did

  • 7 plenum votes · 7 toward "The government decides"

11 of the list's MKs voted: 11 for, 0 against. For = to change the status of the Attorney General through legislation

July 15, 2026The vote

All sources (8)

Shas

Firm position: The government decides

Strong evidence
What it rests on

Toward "The government decides"Toward "Keep legal advice independent"

7 plenum votes · Official record

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