Jerusalem Court Orders Disclosure of Qualifications of Religious Council Leaders

The Jerusalem District Court ruled in favor of the organization Atim, ordering the Ministry of Religious Services to disclose the education, qualifications, and professional experience of the heads and appointees of religious councils. The court rejected privacy concerns raised by the ministry, emphasizing the public interest in transparency regarding these public appointments. Judge Arnon Darel stated that the requested information pertains to the legal requirements for the public roles and that candidates for senior public positions implicitly agree to such disclosure.

The petition was filed by Atim, represented by attorney Yair Meborach Shaag, after months of refusal by the ministry to provide information on whether council leaders met the legal criteria. The ministry had argued that releasing candidate questionnaires would violate privacy laws. The court ordered the ministry to provide the information within 30 days and to pay Atim 10,000 shekels in legal fees plus court costs.

Atim chairman Rabbi Shaul Farber called the ruling a victory for the Israeli public, stressing that religious councils manage public funds and must be led by qualified individuals rather than political appointees. Attorney Shaag described the ruling as a landmark for transparency and proper governance in religious services and public administration, promising continued vigilance to ensure full transparency for the public's benefit.