JERUSALEM — Lawmakers from Yisrael Beytenu have put forward a bill that would change Israel’s current Chief Rabbinate structure, replacing the longstanding system of separate Ashkenazi and Sephardic Chief Rabbis with a single national Chief Rabbi.

The legislation, submitted by MKs Avigdor Liberman, Oded Forer, Evgeny Sova, Sharon Nir, and Hamad Amar, would amend key sections of the Chief Rabbinate Law. Among the proposed changes are removing references to “Chief Rabbis of Israel,” eliminating the ability to run dual candidacies, and making the Chief Rabbi the head of both the Chief Rabbinate Council and the Great Rabbinical Court.

The lawmakers said the dual system no longer reflects contemporary Israeli society, which has become far more integrated since the country’s founding. They also highlighted practical benefits, noting that combining the two positions could streamline operations and reduce administrative costs.

“This change is designed to modernize the office and better reflect the realities of Israeli life today,” the bill states, emphasizing that the distinction between Ashkenazi and Sephardic Chief Rabbis is largely symbolic in the current era.

The proposal echoes a similar bill submitted previously by Liberman and is comparable to a measure introduced by MK Elazar Stern in Israel’s previous Knesset session, showing ongoing interest in reforming the Chief Rabbinate.