Gideon Sa'ar in sharp response to Attorney General's criticism: "Undermines democratic principles"

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar sharply criticized the Attorney General's legal opinion today (Sunday) regarding the proposed changes to the composition of the Judicial Selection Committee, claiming it is a "political document, not a legal one" that harms Israeli democracy.

"I have read the Attorney General's opinion regarding the agreement framework that the Justice Minister and I reached," Sa'ar wrote in a statement released today. "This is a political document, not a legal document."

Sa'ar, who partnered with Justice Minister Yariv Levin on the framework, expressed frustration that the Attorney General sees it as a disadvantage that the current proposal replaces a previous one "that was subject to intense public controversy."

"It is difficult to find in the history of the state and the Knesset a proposal that was formed after such prolonged public and political discourse," Sa'ar argued, adding that the Attorney General's suggestions to establish a public committee or advance a government bill are merely "delaying tactics."

Sa'ar even accused the Attorney General of undermining democratic principles: "The truth is that the one whose actions harm democratic principles is the Attorney General, who is trying to replace both the government and the Knesset."

In a personal reference, Sa'ar mentioned that he himself brought about the appointment of the current Attorney General to the position three years ago, "based on the approach she presented of 'enabling counsel'."

The dispute takes place against the backdrop of efforts to change the composition of the Judicial Selection Committee, with the Attorney General arguing that the proposed framework "casts a heavy political shadow on the judicial system and harms its professionalism, independence, and ability to oversee the government."

Former Minister Itamar Ben Gvir also came out against the Attorney General and her statements, expressing anger at the government for not listening when he called for her dismissal: "The Attorney General does not advise the government, but does what she wants, controls everything possible, obstructs, determines, and decides everything. This has no parallel in the world. I said throughout the year, and I'll say again: If the government, the Justice Minister, and the ministers don't begin the process of firing the chief tailor to the government from Salah a-Din Street – she will fire them all. One after another."