Court issues temporary block on Levin appointing Ben-Hamo to oversee Sde Teiman leak probe

The High Court of Justice issues an interim order delaying Justice Minister Yariv Levin’s appointment of a retired judge to head the investigation into the former military advocate general.

The court issues a ruling after the Israel Democracy Guard filed a petition immediately after Levin, earlier today, officially submitted the appointment of Yosef Ben-Hamo to oversee the probe into Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi over her role in leaking a video purportedly showing Israeli soldiers abusing a Palestinian detainee.

According to the court ruling, the appointment of Ben-Hamo is temporarily stayed, and Levin, the attorney general, and the state attorney’s office have until Monday to respond to the petition.

Yesterday, the High Court declined a petition to delay Levin’s ability to appoint someone to the role, but said that once he does tap a supervisor for the investigation, the request may be evaluated.

Levin made the nomination after the court ruled on Sunday that he was allowed to make such an appointment, sidelining the attorney general — who he has accused of covering up an investigation into the leak — but invalidating his previous nominee.

The Israel Democracy Guard argued that the ruling earlier this week set an unprecedented principle enabling political involvement in a criminal process.