Lapid tried to block Sa'ar's appointments – and received a crushing reminder from his past

Opposition leader Yair Lapid turned to the Attorney General demanding a freeze on the appointment of 12 ambassadors by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, claiming it was a fait accompli. The Foreign Ministry's legal adviser rejected the request and reminded him that similar appointments were made during his own tenure as Prime Minister and Foreign Minister during an election campaign.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid turned today (Thursday) to the Attorney General demanding a freeze on the appointment of 12 ambassadors requested by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, claiming it was a fait accompli ahead of the next government during elections. The Foreign Ministry's legal adviser, Tamar Kaplan Turjeman, rejected the request within hours, ruling that the minister acted according to procedures. In her pointed response, she drew his attention to the fact that during his own tenure as Prime Minister and Foreign Minister in the last election campaign, such appointments continued as usual. The Foreign Ministry's response stated that this was a matter of continuity of government activity and diplomatic interests, and that similar appointments took place in all recent election campaigns (2013, 2015, 2019, 2022). It was also noted that delaying professional appointments abroad would harm the public interest. The article portrays Lapid as having received an embarrassing reminder from his past, emphasizing the sting in the legal adviser's response.