PM asserts only government should pick civil service commissioner

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserts that the responsibility to choose a civil service commissioner lies with “the nation,” represented by the elected government, and there is no reason to grant civil service professionals a say in the matter.

Addressing concerns that the government could appointment people who are incompetent, Netanyahu says that top security positions are already chosen directly by the government, in remarks released by the Prime Minister’s Office.

He adds that if the public determines they are a bad fit, they can just vote in a new government “that can make new appointments.”

“Here, there is no rule by bureaucrats who are above the people, who know better than the government,” Netanyahu asserts.

“If we don’t allow bureaucrats to decide the competence of heads of our security establishment, why must we make an exception for appointments to the civil service, and put it in their hands?”

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara has recently insisted that the role of civil service commissioner, which involves supervising civil servants, must be approved by a search committee headed by a retired Supreme Court justice, citing a 2018 government decision that was made to ensure the position’s independence. However, the process is not enshrined in legislation and was recently rejected by the government.

Despite the opinion, the government on Sunday approved allowing Netanyahu to directly nominate the next civil service commissioner rather than using a search committee.

Sam Sokol contributed to this report.