Israel's Supreme Court Questions Appointment of Shas-Affiliated Official

Israel's Supreme Court has issued a conditional order demanding explanations regarding the appointment of Hananiel Shem Tov, an associate of Rabbi Avraham Salim and a former Shas party member, as chairman of the Jerusalem Religious Council's appointed committee. The court questioned why Shem Tov's specific qualifications for the role were not examined, given allegations of a conflict of interest raised by petitioners. If it is determined that he lacks relevant qualifications, the state will be required to justify why his appointment should not be revoked.

Justices Yael Vilner, Ofer Grosskopf, and Yechiel Kasher referenced directives from the Attorney General's office concerning the vetting of appointments, including guidelines on political ties to Shas and United Torah Judaism ministers. The state requested to postpone the petition's review until February 2027, but the court scheduled the hearing for an earlier date, no later than January 1, 2027. The court has not yet issued an interim order, allowing Shem Tov to continue in his position.

Shem Tov was appointed in December 2025 by Yariv Levin, who was then the Minister of Religious Services. He had previously run for mayor of Beitar Illit on behalf of Shas and is considered close to Rabbi Avraham Salim, a member of the party's Council of Torah Sages. Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri had reportedly supported Shem Tov's candidacy for the position prior to his appointment.

The petition was filed in January by attorney Batya Kahana Dror on behalf of the "Jerusalem Union" and "The Awakening" factions, along with Yossi Havilio, Adir Schwartz, and Baruch Gillis. In addition to seeking Shem Tov's dismissal, the petitioners requested the establishment of an elected religious council in Jerusalem. During a September hearing, justices criticized the absence of an elected religious council in the capital for 23 years.

State representatives acknowledged during the September hearing that Shem Tov's specific qualifications had not been assessed at the time of his appointment. However, they argued that his affiliation with Shas did not necessitate such an examination because the appointing minister, Yariv Levin, was from the Likud party, not Shas. Shem Tov previously stated that he underwent a standard eligibility check and would present his qualifications if further review was required.

Following the Supreme Court's decision, Kahana Dror stated, "This is an important legal victory in the struggle against political appointments in religious services." She added, "The case of the Jerusalem Religious Council illustrates the need for clear rules, transparency, and professional examination of appointments, regardless of the party holding the appointment authority."