| Attorney General | |
|---|---|
| היועץ המשפטי לממשלה Hayoetz Hamishpati Lamemshala | |
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| Appointer | Cabinet of Israel |
| Term length | Six years, single term |
| Inaugural holder | Ya'akov Shimshon Shapira |
| Formation | 1948 |
| Website | http://www.justice.gov.il |
The attorney general of Israel (Hebrew: היועץ המשפטי לממשלה, Ha-Yo'etz Ha-Mishpati La-Memshala, lit. 'Legal Advisor to the Government') heads the legal system of the executive branch and the public prosecution of the state. The attorney general advises the government in legal matters, represents the state authorities in court, advises in the preparation of legal memoranda for the government in general and the justice minister in particular. Likewise they examine and advise upon private member's bills in the Knesset.
Additionally, the attorney general is tasked with protecting the rule of law and, as such, entrusted with protecting the public interest from possible harm by government authorities. It is an independent appointed position, one of the most important and influential in the Israeli democracy, and a central institution in the framework of the Israeli legal system. Owing to the common law tradition of the domestic legal system, the duties of the attorney general are not codified in law and have been born out of precedent and tradition over the years. In February 2022, lawyer Gali Baharav-Miara received unanimous backing from the cabinet to become the first-ever female attorney general.[1]