High Court urges ministers to reverse decision to fire postal chief, suggesting move politically motivated

The High Court of Justice recommends to cabinet ministers Shlomo Karhi and David Amsalem that they reverse their decision to fire Israel Postal Company chairman Mishael Vaknin, warning the two that the court would compel them to do so if they failed to comply.

Justices Isaac Amit, Chaled Kabub and David Mintz express skepticism over the reasons for Vaknin’s dismissal, with Kabub heavily implying that it was a political decision and not one based on professional considerations.

“The law for government companies has existed for 50 years, ministers have appointed directors, and never has one been fired. When you look at the sequence of events, the suspicion arises that the ministers removed a chairman who was appointed by the previous minister with a strong basis [for doing so],” says Kabub during Thursday’s hearing, according to a Ynet report.

In September, the High Court froze Karhi and Amsalem’s decision to fire Vaknin following arguments by Vaknin’s lawyers that he was fired for political reasons, and in light of the refusal of Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara to support the ministers’ decision.