Supreme Court Judge Eliakim Rubinstein will be appointed to the position of Chairman of the Advisory Committee for Senior Appointments for an interim period, after the High Court rejected the appointment of retired Judge Meni Mazuz last night (Thursday). The government will discuss the approval of the appointment of retired Judge Rubinstein at its upcoming meeting.
After the expected approval, Rubinstein will enter the aforementioned position temporarily and mainly to confirm the appointment of the Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi. The Legal Advisor to the Government Gali Beharve-Miara determined that the appointment of the Chief of Staff even during a transitional government is possible, due to security considerations and the state of threats to Israel. Approval of the appointment was delayed after the petition of the Lavi association against the appointment of Mazuz to the position of chairman the committee which is supposed to approve the appointment and recommend it to the government.
Mazuz did not agree to a temporary appointment, but only to an appointment for a full term of eight years, and the judges of the High Court ruled unanimously yesterday that the petition against the move would be accepted and that the appointment would be revoked.
Judge Rubinstein said he would fill the position.
Defense Minister Benny Gantz said in response: “I welcome the agreement of retired Supreme Court Justice Eliakim Rubinstein to chair the committee that will discuss the appointment of the Chief of Staff. This is a task that has security and national importance and I am sure that Honorable Judge Rubinstein will lead the process properly.”