Israeli Attorney General Warns Political Appointments in Police Investigations Unit Could Harm Elections

Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara issued a formal warning to the Supreme Court on August 13, 2026, about political appointments being made to the sensitive Police Investigations Department (Mahash). She cautioned that such appointments during the current period could undermine the upcoming elections by intimidating police officers and prosecutors. Baharav-Miara highlighted that the new law establishing Mahash created a committee responsible for appointing or dismissing senior officials, but most committee members are either representatives of the Justice Minister or significantly influenced by him.

Justice Minister Yariv Levin has already appointed several members to this committee, including a representative from his office, and is reportedly working on appointing another. The committee can operate with as few as three members, potentially allowing it to function entirely with ministerial appointees. Baharav-Miara warned that this structure risks politicizing key law enforcement appointments and could damage the department’s independence and effectiveness, especially during the sensitive election period.

She urged restraint to prevent political considerations from dominating appointments and to avoid creating irreversible situations for the incoming government. Last month, Baharav-Miara called on the Supreme Court to issue an interim injunction to halt the new Mahash law, describing it as a "political prosecution unit" that could intimidate law enforcement and journalists. She stressed that law enforcement officials require basic conditions to perform their duties independently and without fear, conditions she believes the new law undermines without sufficient justification.