Former Israeli Supreme Court Justice Edna Arbel Passes Away at 82

Edna Arbel, a former Israeli Supreme Court justice and ex-State Attorney, died on Wednesday at the age of 82. Arbel had a distinguished legal career spanning several decades, during which she held key roles in Israel's judicial and law enforcement systems. She is survived by three daughters.

Arbel began her career in 1972 at the Central District Prosecutor's Office, rising to become the district prosecutor in 1984. She participated in significant legal inquiries, including the 300 Line affair and the committee on undercover agent protocols, before her appointment as a judge at the Tel Aviv District Court.

In 1996, Arbel was appointed State Attorney, a position she held for eight years. During her tenure, she implemented important reforms such as amending Prosecutorial Directive 2.5, which generally prevented the prosecution of witnesses who were victims of violence or sexual offenses, even when their testimonies contained inconsistencies. She also led high-profile indictments against prominent figures, including former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, "Maariv" publisher Ofer Nimrodi and his father Yaakov Nimrodi, and recommended charges against others like Yaakov Neeman and Ariel Sharon.

In 2004, Arbel was appointed to the Supreme Court, where she served for ten years until retiring in 2014 at age 70. Her career was marked by leadership in sensitive public cases and efforts to reform prosecutorial procedures.