Attorney General Opposes Police Internal Affairs Appointments: 'Politicization of Law Enforcement'

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara informed the High Court of Justice that appointments for the head of the Police Internal Investigations Department (Mahash) and the new commissioner for police investigations should not be advanced during the election period due to political influence on the appointing committee. She requested halting the procedures until after the elections for the 26th Knesset, arguing that advancing them could create a chilling effect and tie the hands of the next government.

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara submitted a position to the High Court of Justice on Thursday, stating that appointments for the positions of head of the Police Internal Investigations Department (Mahash) and the new commissioner for police investigations should not be advanced during the election period. The position argues that these appointments, intended to implement a structural change in Mahash, are being conducted in a process subject to significant political influence and could tie the hands of the next government. The submission follows a High Court decision ordering the state to clarify whether it intends to continue advancing the appointments until the elections for the 26th Knesset, scheduled for October 27. Central to her position is the composition of the committee that is supposed to appoint the two officeholders: according to the notice, the Minister of Justice has significant influence over three of its five members. The Attorney General warns that advancing the appointments could create a 'severe chilling effect and deterrence' among police officers, investigators, and prosecutors, and argues that there is no urgency justifying completing the process before the elections, as Mahash continues to operate with an acting head. She requests the High Court to prevent further advancement of the appointment procedures until after the elections.