Blue and White Blocks Justice Minister From Appointing Police Investigations Head Amid Legal Dispute

The Blue and White party is preventing Justice Minister Yariv Levin from appointing the head of the Police Investigations Department (Mahash) by exploiting a legal loophole in the new Mahash law passed by the coalition. This was reported on Wednesday morning by the program "This Morning" on Kan News and Reshet Bet. The position will remain vacant until after the elections.

Knesset Member Alon Schuster, chairman of the State Control Committee and responsible for appointing one of the committee members who, under the new law, should select the Mahash director, has refused to propose a retired judge for the committee. Schuster cited two reasons: the Mahash law amendment is currently under Supreme Court review, and the country is in an election period. He sent a letter to the Justice Ministry's director general stating he will not make a nomination while Amendment 45 to the Police Ordinance is still being legally challenged.

Schuster emphasized that the Supreme Court is expected to rule on the petitions by the end of the year and that due to the public and political sensitivity, especially during elections, it is appropriate to wait for the court's decision. He described the amendment as controversial, particularly regarding the political involvement in selecting the Mahash director. Schuster stressed the importance of maintaining Mahash's independence and credibility, especially when public trust in government institutions is under scrutiny.

About a month ago, the Knesset approved the Mahash law in its second and third readings. The law detaches Mahash from the Attorney General's Office and places it under the Justice Ministry as an independent body with a separate budget. It grants Mahash authority to investigate and prosecute police officers for criminal offenses, including minor ones, and to handle offenses committed by police volunteers. The law also allows, for the first time, a woman to head Mahash.