High Court of Justice Supports Government's Non-Competitive Appointment of Civil Service Commissioner
The High Court of Justice has ruled that the Israeli government is not obligated to appoint a civil service commissioner (CSC) through a competitive process, overturning a previous decision by Supreme Court President Isaac Amit. The Civil Service Law allows the government to appoint the commissioner without a tender, traditionally using a special appointments committee led by a retired judge and public representatives. Justice David Mintz, writing for the majority, stated there was no legal basis to alter the existing law, although it does not prevent a competitive process if deemed appropriate. The court also reinforced a 2018 decision requiring a permanent appointment method. In contrast, the minority opinion, led by Amit and Justice Daphne Barak-Erez, argued that the lack of a formal tender should not negate the need for a competitive process, suggesting that the current system allows excessive political influence, particularly from the prime minister.