High Court to Levin: How Will You Appoint Police Internal Investigations Head in Transitional Government?
The High Court of Justice ordered Justice Minister Yariv Levin to clarify how he intends to advance the appointment of the head of the Police Internal Investigations Department (Mahash) during the election period, despite restrictions on a transitional government. The deadline for submitting candidacies has been extended to August 16, and the process is expected to conclude about two months before the elections on October 27. The justices demand an explanation of how the appointment will be completed in light of previous rulings limiting senior appointments.
The High Court of Justice ordered Justice Minister Yariv Levin to clarify whether he intends to advance, during the election period, the appointment of the head of the Police Internal Investigations Department (Mahash) and the committee that will select him, under the new law, in accordance with restrictions on senior appointments by a transitional government. The process is expected to extend deep into the election period, as the deadline for submitting candidacies has been extended again by the Ministry of Justice Director General Itamar Donenfeld to August 16, so that it will conclude about two months before the elections scheduled for October 27. According to the High Court ruling, a transitional government must exercise restraint and avoid significant decisions and senior appointments, unless there is a vital public need. Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara updated the High Court on the extension. The law, approved about two months ago against the legal advice, removes Mahash from the prosecution and makes it an independent unit in the Ministry of Justice directly subordinate to the Justice Minister. Petitions were filed against the law to the High Court, which has not yet decided whether to freeze its entry into force. 43 Knesset members supported the proposal against 39 who opposed. The legal system assessed that the law would accelerate the politicization of the police and reduce corruption investigations.