ISRAEL
Israel’s Minister for Justice, Amir Ohana says he will appoint an Acting State Attorney, defying Attorney General, Avichai Mandelblit (pictured) who says Mr Ohana does not have the authority to do so.
Mr Ohana’s candidate, Dan Eldad is currently Director of the Economic Crimes Division of the State Prosecution Service which specialises in investigating and prosecuting high-level corruption in Government and large corporations.
It is also responsible for the most complex cases of financial fraud.
Mr Mandelblit opposes Mr Eldad’s appointment, though the reasoning for his opposition was not immediately clear.
He offered Mr Ohana seven names of candidates acceptable to him, which did not include Mr Eldad.
The State Attorney position became vacant when Shai Nitzan concluded his five-year term in December.
Mr Ohana’s last attempt to appoint an Acting State Attorney — District Crime Prosecutor for Tel Aviv, Orly Ginsberg Ben-Ari — fell through when Ms Ginsberg Ben-Ari withdrew her candidacy following a firestorm of criticism at her selection, including by the Attorney General.
Mr Mandelblit has insisted Mr Ohana’s authority to appoint key officials is limited because he serves as a caretaker Minister for Justice in an unelected Government.
Mr Ohana was appointed to his post by Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu in June after the indecisive April General Election and ahead of the equally indecisive September poll.
Mr Mandelblit suggested Mr Ohana appoint one of the Deputy State Attorneys to the temporary post and said his preference was Deputy State Attorney for Criminal Law, Shlomo Lamberger, the longest-serving member of that echelon.
Mr Ohana, meanwhile, has insisted that Mr Mandelblit’s opposition to his appointments is an example of the runaway powers of the State legal bureaucracy, which he says should not flout the will of elected officials.
Jerusalem, 3 February 2020
