Last update - 00:00 08/02/2007
New Justice Min.: Cheshin's comments don't warrant criminal probe
By Yuval Yoaz, Haaretz Correspondent
Newly appointed Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann said Thursday that he does not feel the threatening comments made by former Supreme Court Justice Mishael Cheshin were criminal.
On Thursday morning, a complaint against Cheshin was filed with the police. The complaint was filed after Cheshin said in response to Friedmann's appointment on Wednesday "anyone who raises his hand against the Supreme Court - I will cut off his hand." This comment was perceived as a direct threat against Friedmann, who is a well known Supreme Court critic.
Friedmann, however, announced that he does not "view the comment as a threat, and asks the public to refrain from filing complaints regarding this issue, and from the unwarranted transfer of too many issues into the criminal realm."
Friedmann met with Attorney General Menache Mazuz Thursday afternoon, for his first working meeting as minister. Next Tuesday, he will conduct his first meeting with Supreme Court President Dorit Beinisch. Before he was appointed to the post of justice minister, Friedmann harshly criticized Beinisch, and even called for the elimination of the seniority system in order to prevent the appointment of Beinisch to the presidency of the Supreme Court.
Mazuz's office announced Thursday that a criminal investigation will not be launched against Friedmann, for charges of attempting to influence the outcome of the sexual harassment trial of former Justice Minister Haim Ramon.
The attorney general's office made this announcement in response to a complaint filed by Omets, a non-profit watchdog organization, who maintained that Friedmann, through the media, attempted to sway the court.