A bill that would split the role of the attorney-general passed in its first reading in the Knesset plenum on Tuesday.
Sixty-five voted in favor of the bill, while 47 opposed it.
The bill, advanced by MKs Hanoch Milwidsky, Yitzhak Kreuzer, and additional Knesset members, will now return for discussion in the Knesset’s Constitution, Law and Justice Committee.
If passed, the role of Attorney-General would be divided between two separate officials: an Attorney-General and a state prosecutor.
The attorney-general will be appointed by the government following a recommendation from the prime minister and the justice minister, following the same term as the government that appointed them.
Law designed to prevent concentration of power
The state prosecutor, on the other hand, will be appointed for a six-year term by a public committee and will head the prosecution.
The purpose of the law is to prevent an excessive concentration of power and inherent conflict of interest, allowing ministers to reject the attorney-general’s legal opinions.
Current Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara attacked the move, calling it “stage two of the judicial reform” and warning of a race to eliminate democratic institutions ahead of a possible Knesset dissolution.