Precedent in the Justice System: Shin Bet Screened Candidates for Qadi and Led to Their Disqualification

For the first time, the Shin Bet submitted a security assessment to the Qadi Selection Committee regarding candidates for judgeships in Sharia courts, before the vote on their appointments. Following information about ties of several candidates to the northern faction of the Islamic Movement, the committee decided not to discuss their candidacies. The screening was conducted at the request of Ministers Orit Strock and Dudi Amsalem.

For the first time ever, the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) submitted a security assessment to the Qadi Selection Committee regarding candidates for judgeships in Sharia courts, before the vote on their appointments. The assessment, submitted at the request of Ministers Orit Strock and Dudi Amsalem, included a table with the candidates' names and the results of the Shin Bet's check. Several candidates were found to have ties to the northern faction of the Islamic Movement, which has been declared an illegal organization. After a heated discussion, the committee decided to disqualify them and not discuss their appointments. This is a precedent, as usually the Shin Bet checks security clearance for judges only after their appointment and does not submit the results to the committee. Additionally, Strock revealed that she personally conducted a check on candidates and found a candidate who had written problematic posts, as well as a candidate who included in his list of recommenders Hussein al-Tartouri, who served as a minister in the Hamas government.