Opposition MKs walk out of Knesset panel as Rothman tries to rush bill to split AG’s role

Opposition lawmakers walk out of a heated Constitution Committee session in protest after chair Religious Zionism MK Simcha Rothman orders Yesh Atid MK Yoav Segalovitz removed during deliberations on a controversial bill to split the role of the attorney general, as the coalition races to advance the legislation ahead of the Knesset’s possible dissolution in the coming weeks.

The legislation, which has only passed a preliminary reading, would split the attorney general’s role into three separate positions, effectively depriving the position of all authority and independence, in a move critics say is intended to weaken the office’s authority and independence and remove a major check on government power, including during upcoming elections.

Multiple opposition MKs object during the meeting to advancing such a major constitutional change while the Knesset appears headed toward dissolution, following bills submitted by both the coalition and opposition last week.

Segalovitz asks the committee’s legal advisor for “a written legal opinion on whether the legislation can continue advancing through second and third readings during dissolution proceedings.”

After Segalovitz continues pressing the issue, Rothman, who opened the meeting by declaring that “this week we will vote on [the bill] in its first reading, God willing,” silences the lawmaker and orders him removed from the room, prompting shouting and a walkout by opposition committee members in protest.

Yesh Atid MK Karin Elharrar calls the committee’s discussions “a fundamentally flawed process to pass amendments to a Basic Law within minutes, without allowing for a genuine professional discussion.”

“The goal is clear: to do everything possible so that the process is ultimately struck down, in order to continue the campaign and blame the court,” she says.

Opposition lawmakers accuse the coalition of intentionally rushing through the legislative process to advance legally vulnerable legislation so that any future intervention by the High Court of Justice can later be used to fuel political attacks on the judiciary during election campaigns.

ועדת חוקה חזרה לשגרה – חברי האופוזיציה יצאו במחאה מהדיון לאחר שיו״ר הוועדה שמחה רוטמן ביקש להוציא את ח״כ יואב סגלוביץ׳ בטענה שאין לו רשות דיבור. pic.twitter.com/RbEitU2u8s

— efrat avivi | אפרת אביבי (@avivi_efrat) May 17, 2026