Justice Minister Yariv Levin called on Acting Supreme Court President Yitzhak Amit to suspend his candidacy for the court’s presidency, citing allegations of conflicts of interest in cases over which Amit had presided. Judge Amit refused to withdraw his candidacy.
In a letter he sent Amit overnight Thursday, Levin referenced several recent reports claiming that Amit had presided over cases despite potential conflicts of interest. Among the allegations, Levin highlighted reports that Amit issued a legal order involving a board of directors where his brother was a member, and failed to disclose his involvement in legal proceedings related to an apartment jointly owned by him and his brother. Additionally, Israeli media reported that Amit violated building laws regarding a house he owns in a settlement near the entrance to Jerusalem.
In response to the Justice Minister’s letter, Judge Amit stated, “Detailed responses have been and will be provided to all the allegations raised, refuting each of them.” He further clarified that once explanations for the additional allegations are provided, the matter should be decided by the Judicial Selection Committee.
Last week, the police announced that they would not launch an investigation into Amit regarding the allegations reported in the media, as they found no grounds for suspicion of criminal activity.
However, as many on both sides of the aisle have commented, to qualify as the next Supreme Court President it’s not enough that Amit is not a criminal. The man holding the highest judicial post in the land should be completely smudge-free.
Levin also wrote in his letter that he intends to do everything in his power “to ensure that the election of the President of the Supreme Court will be carried out only after the examination of all the allegations has been completed.” The Justice Minister added that Amit is currently serving as acting President of the Supreme Court “and there is no urgency in completing the procedures for appointing the President in this situation.”
IT’S ABOUT THE OCTOBER 7 COMMITTEE, STUPID
The reason the Supreme Court has been relentless in its pressure on Levin to assemble the committee to elect judges and vote on Amit’s candidacy has little to do with Amit’s desire for more power and everything to do with who gets to appoint the head of a state commission of inquiry on the failures of October 7. The inquiry committee traditionally includes a retired Supreme Court judge, who is appointed by the Court President. If Amit is at the helm, he would most likely appoint Esther Hayut, and her committee would be run the way Hayut ran her court – as an extension of the Meretz party.
However, if Amit’s growing list of exposed debacles and inability to uphold the law when it came to his personal business knocks him out of the race, then the next in line according to the court’s seniority system – staunchly adhered to by the leftist judges – the next court president would be Judge Noam Sohlberg. Now, according to his Wikipedia page, “Sohlberg lives in Alon Shvut, an Israeli settlement in the West Bank.” As such, he has been one of the most reasonable and benign judges on the high court, and there’s no doubt that he would appoint a retired judge on the committee who would be acceptable to the right-wing majority in Israel.
BARDUGO’S COMPLAINTS
Right-wing commentator Yaakov Bardugo, who is close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on Thursday morning attacked Minister Levin in an unsigned article on the Channel 14 website:
Justice Minister Yariv Levin, responsible for convening the committee that is set to elect Justice Yitzhak Amit as Supreme Court President on Sunday, has yet to decide whether to hold the meeting. His approach has been criticized for lacking clarity and decisive action. Levin has neither proposed a concrete solution nor demanded a disciplinary investigation into Amit. Instead, he appears to be avoiding direct confrontation.
Critics point out that Levin, despite having significant political backing and the support of over two million voters, is not using his authority to act decisively. He has not fired the Attorney General, prevented Amit’s appointment, or established a disciplinary tribunal to address the allegations.
Levin’s inaction has sparked frustration within his political base. Some argue that if he cannot deliver meaningful outcomes for the right-wing camp, he should step aside and allow someone more assertive to take his place.
