Legislation9/26/2026

The Law Removing Mahash from the State Attorney’s Office: Moshe Saada’s Role and the Ethics Committee’s Prohibition

Likud Knesset member Moshe Saada initiated a law separating the Department of Internal Police Investigations—Mahash—from the State Attorney’s Office. The law received final approval on June 10, 2026, even though in 2023 the Knesset Ethics Committee prohibited Saada from promoting the bill because of a conflict of interest.

Key facts

•Initiator: Likud Knesset member Moshe Saada
•Ethics Committee decision: July 30, 2023
•Final approval of the law: June 10, 2026
•Vote result: 43 to 39
•Settlement in Saada’s dispute: 110,000 shekels
•A petition against the law was filed with the High Court of Justice

Why the Conflict-of-Interest Issue Arose

Before entering politics, Saada worked at Mahash for 23 years and served as deputy head of the department from 2011. In January 2022, he was dismissed over what the dismissal letter described as a “severe and profound crisis of trust” with the head of the unit. At the same time, Saada pursued legal proceedings against Mahash related to his allegations of workplace harassment; in 2024, the state paid him 110,000 shekels as part of a settlement.

What the Ethics Committee Decided

On July 30, 2023, the Knesset Ethics Committee determined that the combination of the Knesset member’s promotion of the reform and Saada’s personal legal dispute with Mahash created an “improper means of pressure.” As long as the proceedings continued, the committee prohibited him from promoting the bill. Following the decision, Saada announced that another Knesset member would handle its advancement.

What the Enacted Law Provides

The law removes Mahash from the structure of the State Attorney’s Office. According to the information presented in the report, the justice minister is to appoint the head of the unit; critics of the reform viewed this as politicization of the appointment. The law received final approval on June 10, 2026, by a vote of 43 to 39.

The Objections and the Petition to the High Court of Justice

The attorney general warned that the head of Mahash could become an officeholder dependent on the political leadership. State Attorney Amit Aisman pointed to the risk of creating two law-enforcement systems without uniform professional authority. The Movement for Quality Government in Israel filed a petition against the law with the High Court of Justice; the source does not state the outcome of the proceedings.

What this means for you

For Israeli residents, the reform changes the institutional status of the body that investigates suspicions of offenses committed by police officers: Mahash is being separated from the State Attorney’s Office. The practical significance will depend on the implementation of the new appointment method and the unit’s work, as well as on the High Court of Justice’s decision on the petition that was filed, which is not provided in the source.

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