Despite opposition from AG, cabinet approves forced retirement for government legal advisers

By Sam Sokol 17 November 2024, 5:38 pm

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Sam Sokol is a former political correspondent at The Times of Israel. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara (center) and Justice Minister Yariv Levin (right) at a farewell ceremony for retiring acting Supreme Court president Uzi Vogelman, at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem, October 1, 2024. (Oren Ben Hakoon/POOL)

Despite opposition by the Attorney General’s Office, the cabinet approves a proposal to force the retirement within the next 90 days of ministerial legal advisers who have served more than seven years.

According to national broadcaster Kan, the move would pave the way for the ouster of seven ministerial advisers, especially Finance Ministry Legal Adviser Asi Messing, who has clashed with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

In a legal opinion this morning, the Attorney General’s Office stated that the government’s move was concerning because it could mean that it intends to remove officials who act as “gatekeepers.”

During a heated debate, cabinet members slam the advisers as having allegedly acted in “breach of trust for 15 years” by not complying with a 2009 government decision, in line with the findings of the inter-ministerial Abramovich Commission, to limit their terms to seven years. The decision was never implemented.