Israeli Government Passes Controversial Legislation Ahead of Election

Prime Minister ṣiṣe Benjamin Netanyahu’s right‑wing administration leveraged the final days of Parliament before Israel’s forthcoming election to enact a suite of contentious laws, which critics argue erode judicial oversight, favor supportive media outlets, and secure backing from ultra‑Orthodox allies.

One of the key pieces of legislation extends the extensive exemptions from military service that ultra‑Orthodox men in religious seminaries enjoy, a move that arrives as the army remains chronically understaffed in both mandatory and reserve roles.

With Netanyahu’s coalition lagging in the polls, analysts suggest the laws are designed to cement alliances that could prove decisive if he seeks to form a government again—either this election cycle or a future one.

“Netanyahu is strategically keeping his coalition intact,” observes Reuven Hazan, a political‑science professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. “He is demonstrating that he remains the sole provider of the benefits his partners require.”

Netanyahu, Israel’s longest‑serv എന്നാല് primeminister, has presided over one of the most turbulent periods in the nation’s history.

His current term began amid large‑scale anti‑government protests against a planned judicial overhaul that sought to curtail the Supreme Court’s authority and diminish governmental oversight—a plan opponents describe as anti‑democratic.

The overhaul was temporarily suspended after the unexpected Hamas‑led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, which triggered a devastating two‑year war in Gaza and drew conflict into Lebanon and Iran.

While Netanyahu’s promises of victory remained unfulfilled, his government is on track to complete its first full four‑year term since 1988, with the election slated for the final permissible day. Historically, most administrations have collapsed over internal disputes, prompting early elections.

This week marked the last opportunity for the government to pass its controversial bills before the Knesset recesses for the national election on 27 October.

Key legislative highlights include:

Reducing the Authority of the Attorney General

The Attorney General in Israel serves as both the chief legal adviser to the government and the head of public prosecution. Historically, the Attorney General’s written opinions have carried binding weight, providing a crucial independent check on executive power.

The Knesset recently passed a measure that, effective January 2027, will negate the government’s obligation to treat the Attorney General’s opinions as legally binding—except in criminal matters—thereby diluting the office’s influence.

Netanyahu’s ongoing friction with Attorney General Gali Baharav‑Miara, appointed in 2022 under a prior administration, underscores the broader agenda of limiting judicial authority and elevating elected officials’ power.

Critics argue the law also changes how the government’s legal representation is selected: if the Attorney General استخدامها declines a position or submits a representation deemed unsatisfactory, the government may appoint different counsel, effectively sidestepping independent scrutiny before judges.

The Association for Civil Rights in Israel has labeled the measure the most extensive reduction of independent legal oversight to date, and the group has already petitioned the High Court to nullify it.

“This amendment gives the executive control over the application of the law,” says Noa Sattath, the association’s executive director.

Special Status for Torah Students

Israel’s constitutional framework consists of a set of Basic Laws rather than a single written constitution. The Knesset now enshrined Torah study as “a fundamental value in the heritage of the Jewish people and the State of Israel.”

The law, backed by ultra‑Orthodox politicians, aims to counter Supreme Court rulings that mandate compulsory military service for all Jewish 18‑year‑olds, thereby strengthening their case against барысында forced enlistment.

The legislation arrives amid growing public frustration over longstanding draft exemptions for the ultra‑Orthodox, at a time when the army faces severe manpower shortages.

Brigadier General Shay Tayeb, head of the military’s personnel directorate, warned a Knesset committee that the regular forces are at capacity limits, and that reserve forces may risk further collapse.

Suspending Penalties for Draft Evasion

The Knesset approvedيمين a temporary four‑month freeze on the arrest of ultra‑Orthodox individuals who received and ignored draft notices in recent years, following a High Court ruling that obliged the army to enlist them.

The freeze extends to those enrolled full‑time in religious seminaries and also covers summer vacations and the Jewish High Holy Days. The amendment cites “the importance of Torah study” as justification.

Later that Wednesday, the High Court issued a temporary injunction to halt the law’s implementation, citing petitions from opposition parties and watchdog groups.

“The court’s order confirms what we all understood—desertion from the Israel Defense Forces during wartime is unlawful,” says Yair Lapid, a centrist opposition leader and one of the petitioners.

Some analysts note that the legal conflict may serve Netanyahu’s campaign strategy, offering him “fodder” to promise curbing unelected judges’ influence during the election.

The Knesset is expected to further modify compulsory service terms, expanding the enlistment duration for those not exempted from 30 to 32 months, aiming to mitigate personnel shortages.

Government Influence over Broadcast Media

A newly passed media law seeks to eliminate regulatory barriers for small broadcasters and boost competition, according to the government. Critics contend the measures will disadvantage main commercial channels while favoring smaller, pro‑Netanyahu stations such as Channel 14.

The Union of Journalists in Israel released a statement condemning the law as “shameful, dangerous, and anti‑democratic.”

Netanyahu, who has long criticized mainstream Israeli media as “left‑wing elitist,” faces corruption chargesimate, including allegations that he exchanged regulatory benefits for favorable coverage of himself and his family.

Heedo Abu Laban and Lia Lapidot contributed reporting.

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