Israeli Supreme Court Signals Delay in Appointing New Police Investigations Head Until After Elections

The Israeli Supreme Court indicated on Tuesday that appointing a new head for the Police Investigations Department (Mahash) is unlikely to proceed before the upcoming Knesset elections scheduled for October 27, 2026, unless a consensus is reached on the appointment. Although the court did not issue an injunction to halt the process, it ordered the government to clarify by August 9 whether it intends to advance the appointments under the police ordinance before the elections. The court emphasized that the state must adhere to established rules regarding appointments during election periods.

The legislation establishing the new Police Investigations Department was passed just before the dissolution of the previous Knesset. The tender to select the department head was supposed to open on June 25 and close by July 12, five days before the Knesset was dissolved. However, the Justice Ministry's director-general postponed the tender twice, citing a lack of sufficient or suitable candidates. No new candidates have emerged during these delays, and the tender has yet to commence.

With elections approaching and the selection process still stalled, the Supreme Court's decision adds further obstacles to completing the appointment before the next government forms. The options now are either reaching an agreement on the appointment or awaiting further court rulings. Meanwhile, Attorney Ronen Yitzhak, currently serving as acting head of the Police Investigations Department, is expected to continue in his role for the coming months if the appointment process remains incomplete. The court has not definitively prohibited the appointment but is awaiting a clear position from the government before deciding on further intervention.