Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara has ordered a delay in the tender process for the E1 settlement project, pushing the deadline past the upcoming October 27 election. The decision stems from concerns regarding potential electioneering, as the Attorney General seeks to avoid the appearance of government projects influencing the political climate during an active campaign period.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who oversees the relevant departments, has strongly opposed the delay. Smotrich maintains that the tender process is an administrative, apolitical function and argues that the Attorney General’s intervention constitutes improper election meddling. He has called upon the head of the election committee to intervene, suggesting that the Attorney General is overstepping her authority and becoming an "active player" in the political arena rather than a neutral legal arbiter.

The E1 project, which involves construction in a sensitive area of the West Bank, has long been a subject of international and domestic controversy. While the Attorney General views the postponement as a necessary measure to maintain the integrity of the election, Smotrich views the decision as an obstruction of his ministerial duties. The disagreement highlights ongoing tensions between the current government and the legal establishment regarding the limits of administrative power during election cycles.