High Court: Netanyahu Must Not Be Involved in Second Authority Appointment

Israel’s High Court of Justice heard petitions on Tuesday against the appointment of Yifat Ben Haim Segev as chair of the Second Authority Council. Ben Haim Segev is a witness in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s trial, and Justice Alex Stein said the appointment raises a clear conflict while the case is still underway.

Stein said, “As long as the trial has not ended, she is still a prosecution witness. As long as the trial is ongoing, the prime minister is forbidden to deal with the matter.” He added, “Whenever the trial has not ended, contact with prosecution witnesses is forbidden,” and noted that “sometimes rules must be followed properly.”

The report said that in March, Channel 13 News first revealed Netanyahu had taken part in the meeting and even voted in favor of the appointment, despite Ben Haim Segev’s testimony in his case and in violation of his conflict-of-interest arrangement. The petitions challenge that appointment and the court’s comments signal the issue remains under judicial scrutiny.