Israeli Government Lawyer Urges Supreme Court to Halt Police Investigations Unit Appointments During Election Period

The Israeli Attorney General's legal advisor, Adv. Gali Baharav-Miara, has petitioned the Supreme Court to prevent the advancement of appointments for the head of the Police Investigations Department (Mahash) and a new supervisor during the election period. The government argues that these are highly sensitive law enforcement positions and that the appointment process is vulnerable to political influence.

The state submission, filed on Thursday, highlights that the Justice Minister, Yariv Levin, has not yet finalized his stance on the matter and has requested separate legal representation, which was approved. The committee responsible for selecting the two officials has not yet been fully formed, as some members remain unappointed. The Justice Minister reportedly has significant direct or indirect influence over three of the five committee members, including the Ministry of Justice Director-General, who chairs the committee, and two others appointed with his involvement.

The Attorney General's office warns that this majority control by ministerial appointees risks politicizing the law enforcement system. The committee not only appoints but can also terminate these officials, who are slated to serve six-year and three-year terms respectively. The call for candidates for the head position was published on June 25, with the application deadline extended three times to August 16, while no call has yet been issued for the supervisor role.

The legal advisor contends that proceeding with permanent appointments during the election period is unjustified, especially since the unit is newly established and the current acting officials are experienced and capable. She suggests that temporary appointments during elections are more appropriate to avoid binding the incoming government and to maintain public trust and operational independence. The state also emphasizes the heightened sensitivity of law enforcement functions during elections, including maintaining public order and safeguarding electoral processes.

The petition requests the court to bar further progress in these appointments until after the elections, while reserving the state's right to respond to the Justice Minister's position once submitted.