Israeli Supreme Court Rejects Petition to Intervene in Shde Teiman Leak Investigation

The Israeli Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected a petition demanding judicial intervention in the investigation of the leak of materials related to the Shde Teiman case. The court ruled by a majority of two to one that it would not instruct the police on specific investigative actions or directions. The panel, consisting of President Isaac Amit and Justices David Mintz and Khaled Kabub, emphasized that the court is not a "judge-investigator" and must respect the professional discretion of law enforcement agencies.

A key point of contention was whether the Attorney General, Amit Isman, remains barred from involvement in the investigation. Initially, a legal opinion from the Ministry of Justice had restricted certain officials, including the Attorney General, from participating. However, following the police's completion of investigative actions on February 3, 2026, and subsequent factual clarifications, a new opinion issued on March 8 cleared Isman of any involvement in the relevant events, allowing him to participate in the investigation. The court majority upheld this updated opinion, noting it was based on comprehensive and current factual findings from senior police officials.

President Amit and Justice Kabub also ruled that the Justice Minister would not be granted additional time to appoint an external supervisor over the investigation, criticizing the minister for delaying this appointment despite court conditions. Justice Mintz dissented, arguing that the sensitive nature of the case requires independent oversight and that the minister should justify why he has not appointed an external supervisor. He warned that without such supervision, the investigation's integrity could be compromised.

The court further warned against allowing the Justice Minister to delay the investigation's completion by withholding the appointment of a supervisor, as this could politicize the criminal inquiry. The ruling reflects ongoing tensions over the management and oversight of the Shde Teiman leak probe, which involves allegations of leaks and false information provided to the Supreme Court by senior military legal officials.

The Supreme Court's decision maintains the current investigative framework and rejects judicial micromanagement, while also clarifying the Attorney General's role and limiting the Justice Minister's influence over the investigation's supervision.