The former chief IDF prosecutor was the only candidate to receive the required four votes from the appointments committee.
Barring surprises, cabinet secretary Dr. Avichai Mandelblit will be the next Attorney General. The public-professional committee for finding candidates for the position of Attorney General has recommended Mandelblit as the sole acceptable candidate of the nine candidates interviewed.
Mandelblit, a general in the IDF reserves who served as chief IDF prosecutor, was considered the preferred candidate of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but his candidacy ran into difficulties concerning his role in the Harpaz affair and the opposition to his appointment by current Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein.
Approval by the committee headed by Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (ret.) Asher Grunis, however, is probably paving Mandelblit’s way to the coveted position.
Candidates passed over by the appointment committee included IDF reserve general Prof. Yishai Beer, a tax expert; State prosecutors audit commissioner and former Central District Court President Judge (ret.) Hila Gerstel; former Antitrust Authority director general and former head of former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s office Adv. Yoram Turbowitz; Knesset legal advisor Adv. Eyal Yinon; Deputy Attorney General (economic-fiscal) Adv. Avi Licht; College of Management Prof. Suzie Navot, a recognized expert in constitutional law; Deputy Attorney General Adv. Raz Nizri; and former Ministry of Justice director general Dr. Guy Rotkopf.
Mandelblit’s candidacy was supported by four committee members, the required number for a recommendation. In addition to Grunis, his supporters on the appointments committee included MK Dr. Anat Berko, Adv. Yehiel Katz, former Minister of Justice Moshe Nissim, and Prof. Gabriela Shalev.
{Matzav.com Israel}
hope yarmulke indicates he follows daas torah