Last update - 00:00 09/03/2007
Decision on controversial police appointment due in 3 weeks
By Yuval Yoaz , Haaretz Correspondent
The committee that evaluates senior civil service appointments plans to announce in two to three weeks whether it will recommend the controversial appointment of Israel Prison Service head Yaakov Ganot as police chief.
"The current general circumstances, and the even greater need to insist on the moral bearings of the candidate, will surely be an issue that the committee will consider seriously," said retired judge Yaakov Turkel, who heads the Turkel evaluation committee.
Public Security Minister Avi Dichter's decision to appoint Ganot has been fiercely criticized because he has been tried on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust while serving as head of the police's Northern District more than a decade ago. Ganot was acquitted of all charges, but was chastised by the Supreme Court in its ruling.
The corruption charges are particularly sensitive at this time because Ganot would be replacing Moshe Karadi, who resigned in the wake of a report by the Zeiler Commission that slammed police and prosecutorial malfeasance in connection with a case that involved a policeman allegedly committing murder on the orders of a reputed crime family.
The Turkel committee will hold its first meeting on the matter next Thursday. Turkel intends to complete interviews with witnesses on the appointment in two sessions, and then prepare a final opinion in writing.
Last week, Ganot filed the questionnaire given to candidates for such positions and attached a resume. Ganot also asked to include recommendations and letters of support for his candidacy, and the committee agreed to receive them.
Among those the committee will interview before its decision will be Dichter and Karadi. Ganot will also be interviewed.
Two weeks ago, Turkel told Haaretz he plans to be particularly meticulous in the case of Ganot's appointment because of differences between the post of police chief and Ganot's job as head of the prison service. Turkel also cited the circumstances that led to Karadi's resignation.