Knesset Advances Bill To Reduce Power Of The Israel Bar Association

Israeli Justice Minister Yariv Levin (left) addresses the Knesset during a debate on the government's judicial reform program in February 2023. He said that the Bar association membership fee funds are used for political purposes that have nothing to do with the benefit of all lawyers. YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90.

JERUSALEM — The Knesset plenum on Wednesday passed in a preliminary reading a bill to transfer much of the authority of the Israel Bar Association to a new public council.

Fifty lawmakers voted for the measure while 43 opposed it. The bill, introduced by Likud MK Hanoch Milwidsky, will now go to the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee headed by MK Simcha Rothman for further review.