Former Israeli Supreme Court Justice and State Attorney Edna Arbel Dies at 82

Edna Arbel, former Supreme Court Justice and State Attorney of Israel, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 82. Born in Jerusalem in 1944, Arbel began studying law while serving in the military and was certified as a lawyer in 1969. She started her legal career in the Central District Attorney's Office and was appointed district attorney in 1984. In 1988, she became a judge at the Tel Aviv District Court.

In 1994, Arbel was appointed State Attorney, a tenure marked by high-profile indictments against prominent public figures such as Ehud Olmert, Avigdor Kahalani, and Rafael Eitan. She also engaged in legal battles with notable business and public personalities including Ofer Nimrodi and Yaakov Neeman. Her public dispute with then Attorney General Menachem Mazuz over the decision not to prosecute Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in the "Greek Island" affair was particularly notable.

Throughout her career, Arbel held sensitive roles, including membership in the Kach 300 Committee and assisting the inquiry into the Sabra and Shatila massacre. In 2004, she was appointed to the Supreme Court amid political and media criticism, including questions about inaccuracies in her academic credentials. Despite opposition, she served on the Supreme Court for ten years until her retirement in 2014.

Arbel was married to Uri Arbel until his passing and is survived by three daughters.