Israeli Justice Minister and Supreme Court President Agree on Dozens of Judicial Appointments
After a prolonged deadlock, Israeli Justice Minister Yariv Levin and Supreme Court President Isaac Amit reached a rare consensus that enabled the Judicial Selection Committee to convene and approve numerous judicial appointments across the country. This breakthrough ended a political and legal stalemate that had paralyzed the system.
Central to the agreement was the promotion of six presidents of magistrate courts to district court judgeships, a move that will take effect after they complete their current terms as court presidents. The judges promoted include Nir Mishori Lev-Tov, Shelly Eisenberg, Menachem Mizrahi, Efrat Or-Elias, Amit Yariv, and Michal Kaplan-Rokman. Notably, Jerusalem Magistrate Court President and acting president of community courts, Shmuel Haravst, declined to be considered for promotion at this time.
Supreme Court President Isaac Amit welcomed the development, stating, "After a long period of preparation and anticipation, I am pleased to announce that today the Judicial Selection Committee convened and appointed dozens of judges to courts across the country." He emphasized that promoting senior management from magistrate courts to district courts was a long-sought goal finally realized.
Beyond these senior promotions, the committee approved dozens of additional appointments to magistrate courts, family courts, traffic courts, and juvenile courts nationwide. New magistrate court judges were appointed in the northern and Haifa districts, including attorneys Ortal Bela, Said Galia, Anan Ganem, Yaniv Avitan, and Ola Bashara Gandur. Family court appointments were made in Haifa, central Israel, Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Jerusalem, and the south, including attorneys Mirit Chavia Dagan and Ingrid Har-Even, and senior registrar Shay Tzarfati. Juvenile and traffic court judges were also appointed, such as attorneys Orit Bar Levi and Yosef Raz, and military judge Zvi Heilbron in the central district.
Additionally, the committee approved appointments of judges serving as registrars and acting judges in district courts in Beersheba, Haifa, Jerusalem, and Nof HaGalil-Nazareth. President Amit concluded by wishing success to the appointees and thanking the committee members and court administration, especially Judge Tzachi Uziel, for their cooperative efforts that resolved the current crisis.
