Following the publication in Haaretz that the ombudsman consulted with academic sources regarding the charges against Netanyahu, it may be time to move on to the district attorney's election model.
This week, Haaretz legal correspondent Neta'el Bendel revealed that Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit secretly consulted with experts from the academy before filing the indictment against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Mandelblit on the decision to file the indictments: "I made the decision with a heavy but whole heart", November 2019 // Photo: Ami Shamir
The forum, according to the report, convened outside the ombudsman's office, and without the knowledge of the Ministry of Justice and the State Attorney's Office. He intends to prosecute Netanyahu.
In other words, Mandelblit chose not to trust the professionalism of the 25 senior members of the State Attorney's Office and Saladin who dealt with Netanyahu's cases, including State Attorney Nitzan and his associates.
For this reason he chose to establish an external "prosecutor's office".
According to the publication, one of the forum members said that "a lawyer called me and said that Mandelblit is in a kind of distress - he intends to go on an indictment, but does not trust his people enough in the macro questions. I saw this as a mission to help him."
According to the publication, in three long meetings that took place, Mandelblit asked those present to address issues that occupied the Ministry of Justice.
He also raised questions that came out of the files.
In addition, Mandelblit consulted forum members regarding leaks from the police and the Ministry of Justice, and to the question that arose as to how he should respond to the speech of the Deputy Adviser, Dina Zilber.
Imagine that a judge is on trial, and just before writing the verdict he chooses to consult with private lawyers.
And not only that, but to do so in complete secrecy and lack of transparency towards the parties.
Mandelblit, who sits as the head of the prosecution in the State of Israel, the sole authority under the law to approve the filing of an indictment against a prime minister at his own discretion, chose to enlist the help of private parties, who are not subject to audit and responsibility.
Mandelblit, who grew up in the army, a closed hierarchical body, did not internalize the transition to the democratic civic world and the obligations he owes to the public by virtue of his position.
It is amazing to read his response to the incredible exposure, in which he “boasts” in recording the forum meetings in the advisor’s schedule under the heading “Meeting with Academics”.
Reveals a slap and covers a slap.
Mandelblit, in his misconduct, than any district attorney and other senior officials to hold secret consultations with lawyers who are not part of the prosecution on criminal cases standing at their desk.
Perhaps the time has come to elect a district attorney similar to the election of a district attorney in New York State, who since 1846 has been elected to office by county residents.
In this way, the public interest and prosecution policy will be determined by the public and not by Saladin officials, who work under the auspices of the Israel Democracy Institute.
The appointments of senior Salah a-Din, led by the Attorney General, also differ from the appointments of senior police and military officials in that their election does not require the approval of the Minister of Justice.
Or is Mandelblit only required for the approval of the secret forum?