Israeli Bar Association Files Supreme Court Petition to Halt New Police Investigations Unit
The Israeli Bar Association has petitioned the Supreme Court to stop the establishment of the new Police Investigations Department (Mahash), which was recently legislated to be separated from the State Attorney's Office. The petition, submitted by lawyers Yaakov Anoch and Lidor Shalosh, argues that the new law threatens the autonomy of law enforcement agencies and risks politicizing the department by enabling politically motivated appointments to key leadership roles.
The Bar Association expressed concern that implementing the law during an election period could severely damage public trust in the justice system and law enforcement. They cited public statements by MK Moshe Saada, the law's initiator, which allegedly reveal intentions to appoint right-wing aligned legal professionals to leadership positions in Mahash to "settle scores" with certain officials, including the State Attorney. These remarks, combined with ongoing appointment processes, reinforce fears that the new unit could become a political tool undermining judicial independence.
The petition requests a full freeze on the law's implementation, including halting the selection committees and any organizational changes until the court fully examines the claims. The Bar Association also seeks an urgent hearing and an interim injunction to suspend the reform, as some provisions have already taken effect and the search for the new department head is underway.
This legal challenge follows a report by Channel 14 revealing that the Ministry of Justice, led by Director-General Itamar Donenfeld, accelerated the formation of the new Mahash, including launching a call for candidates with a mid-July deadline. Lawyer Avi Amiram, known for representing a commander involved in a controversial military case, was named as a member of the selection committee. The Bar Association’s intervention aims to prevent what it sees as a politicized overhaul of the police investigations framework.
