Opposition slams coalition over vow to approve top cop rejected by key committee

Opposition leader Tzipi Livni upbraided the coalition on Saturday after top ministers vowed to approve the government-backed choice for next Israel Police commissioner despite his rejection by the official nominating committee.

The Senior Appointments Advisory Committee, also known as the Goldberg Committee, announced early Friday it could not recommend Maj. Gen. Moshe “Chico” Edri as the next police chief, citing a meeting he held during the nomination process with the lawyer of a Tax Authority whistle-blower who has accused Edri of harassing him.

Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan, who nominated Edri, harshly criticized the committee over its decision and vowed to push ahead with the appointment despite the disqualification.

The committee’s decision also drew criticism from coalition lawmakers, who vowed to back Edri’s nomination in a cabinet vote, and called for the vetting committee to be disbanded.

“A government that cares about integrity, the rule of law and the law-enforcement system is supposed to act according to the recommendations of the committee it itself appointed — but not this government,” Livni said at a cultural event in Nes Tziona.

While stressing her criticism was not directed at Edri himself, Livni said ensuring the public’s trust in police is more important than any nominee up for consideration.

“What the government is doing now is telling the public it doesn’t care about integrity, only about taking over politically,” said Livni, a member of the opposition Zionist Union faction.

MK Shelly Yachimovich, a top Zionist Union member, echoed Livni’s criticism of the government concerning checks and balances and backed the committee’s decision to reject Edri’s nomination.

“There is something basic we are forgetting: People can be both talented and have clean hands. I don’t have any agenda against Edri, but it is not a privilege or excessive demand from us — from the side of the public — that the [IDF] chief of staff, police commissioner, legal advisers or judges be spotless,” she said at an event in Tel Aviv.

Yachimovich also criticized Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit for holding consultations as he considered his position on the matter.

“The fact that Mandelblit announced he would examine the decision of the committee is problematic,” she said.

From the coalition side, Likud MK Amir Ohana called for the disbandment of the Goldberg Committee and said “Israeli democracy is under threat.”

“Not because of the politicians, but because of the bureaucrats and legal advisers,” he said at the event in Nez Tziona where Livni spoke.

“A committee decides which police chiefs will be appointed, legal advisers decide which laws pass… they were never chosen by the public and never assumed responsibility for their ‘recommendations,’ which became de-facto decisions,” he added.

It remained unclear whether Erdan sidestepping the government-appointed vetting committee would be legally viable, and a cabinet approval over the committee’s objections would likely lead to legal petitions and a High Court battle.

Edri’s nomination had drawn widespread praise from politicians in Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Edri was a “fitting appointment” and called him a “good and experienced officer.” Edri beat out Jerusalem police chief Yoram Halevi, who was considered the front-runner for the position, and current Tel Aviv police chief David Bitan.

However, despite widespread government support for Edri, questions have been raised over his past conduct and tenure as Jerusalem’s police chief.

Last week, Edri underwent a lie-detector test at the request of the appointments committee due to the sensitive nature of the commissioner position; the fact that there were complaints against him regarding unspecified inappropriate behavior; and the fact that other contenders for the job had already undergone the test.

The four-member panel voted 2-2 on Edri, forcing a tie-breaking vote by committee chairman, retired Judge Eliezer Goldberg.

Edri’s nomination also faced opposition from LGBT rights groups in Israel, who criticized his handling of the 2015 Pride Parade in Jerusalem in which ultra-Orthodox extremist Yishai Schlissel stabbed to death 16-year-old Shira Banki and wounded five others.

Erdan’s office said he would seek government approval on Sunday to appoint Maj. Gen. Moti Cohen as acting police chief for a period of 45 days, or until a new commissioner is appointed. Current police chief Roni Alsheich is slated to retire on Monday.

Alsheich is to end his term after four years in office. Erdan, who has clashed with the outgoing commissioner, declined to extend his tenure by an additional year.