Dichter: I will submit Ganot appointment to cabinet as soon as possible
Public Security Minister says choice made after nearly all candidates for police commissioner rejected offer.
By Jonathan LisPublic Security Minister Avi Dichter said Monday he is determined to submit Yaakov Ganot's appointment as police commissioner to the cabinet for ratification as soon as possible.
Dichter told Haaretz he had told Ganot of his intention to appoint him two months ago. Dichter said he would have fired Police Commissioner Moshe Karadi had he not resigned Sunday.
If Ganot's appointment fails to meet the legal criteria, Dichter said he would not appoint Major General Micky Levy instead, because Levy did not fulfill the requirements the minister had set for the commissioner's post.
Dichter said that all but one or two candidates to whom he had offered the job rejected it out of hand.
He also criticized Justice (retired) Yitzhak Zamir, who blasted Ganot's appointment on Monday.
Zamir, who had been on the panel of judges that ruled on Ganot's appeal 13 years ago against a conviction of charges such as fraud and bribery, spoke out against his appointment for police commissioner on Israel Radio on Monday.
Dichter said the objections to Ganot's appointment due to his trial and the criticism accompanying his acquittal were to be expected. He said there was no reason not to appoint Ganot, despite the criticism.
"A stain, as complicated as it may be, cannot become an obstacle to the commissioner's appointment," he said. "It has been 13 years since the incident. Some stains stay for life, but I would be very careful before saying the matter at hand is such a case," he said.
Dichter said that Zamir, as a justice who ruled in Ganot's case, "should consider what effect his statement could have and how it could influence those who must decide on the matter."
"It has been 13 years since Zamir ruled on the issue and he spoke without knowing what happened afterward. Ganot has done a few things in his life since then, he has served in senior posts. I hope people will weigh his stumble against the many things he has accomplished," he said.
Speaking of his intention to fire Karadi had he not resigned, Dichter said that "the Zeiler Committee only set the time. I had reached the conclusion that I could not continue in this format five or six months after entering office, and that a significant change was required. It was then that I started looking (for another police commissioner)."
Dichter said he had decided on Ganot some two months ago. "I made it clear to him that he could enter office any time between then and July 31, Karadi's original retirement date."
"I interviewed candidates from the most senior security milieu, the creme de la creme, but apart from one or two nobody could do it. Amram Mitzna was one of the candidates I approached, but I realized it wouldn't work out. Other candidates recoiled from the post," he said.
"I think I examined every single relevant candidate. Ganot was the best, the most suitable and had the highest chances of succeeding in the job. It wasn't easy for me to see serious senior figures recoil from the job," he said.
Dichter said he had not considered candidates from among police major generals.
"The district comanders weren't relevant as far as I was concerned. They do not meet the criteria I set for the post," Dichter said. Shortly after entering office I said that candidates for commissioner will have to be deputy commissioner first. I will position the next deputy commissioners so that they answer the criteria of contending for commissioner. By the time a new commissioner is appointed there will be two candidates in the deputy's post who will be able to run for the top position."
Dichter intends to submit Ganot's appointment to the Tirkel Committee, the body that authorizes appointments to the public service, for approval within a few days. "In the event of a police commissioner's resignation, a new one should be appointed as soon as possible," he said.
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Outgoing police commissioner Moshe Karadi (right), and Israel Prison Service Commissioner Ya'akov Ganot attending a Ministry of Public Security event in Jerusalem in Dec. 2006. (Kobi Gideon / BauBau) |
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If Dicther chose Ganot because he fit his criteria, and Ganot has been on trial for corruption, and found guilty in the District Court, then the district commanders should consider their not beeing selected as a great compliment!!
I looked up the word גנות (Ganot) in the dictionary and it means 'disgrace' - strange coincidence ?!
Not a single, solitary cop who is both honest and competent? Not one? You even have to reach into the prison services to find a replacement, and even he isn't honest? Man, your political, judicial and law enforcement system really does stink. Pee-ewwww! But, hey, look on the bright side - if the New Boy can make it through his term without getting indicted - a big ask, I know - then he's got a great career ahead of him in the knesset. Likud, I imagine. I doubt there will still be a Kadima party when he starts fishing around for a seat in the Big Building.
I thought the Land Of Oz was a fairy tale.
The appoinment of Israel Prison Service Commissioner Lieutenant General Yaakov Ganot as Police Commissioner, pending governmental approval, astonished even Ganot himself so he claimed.- Minister Avi Dichter?s deicision in disagreement with Attorney General who informed him of the past High Court Appeal?s decision in Ganot?s case, aquital for lack of evidence but its remarks / notes referring to moral objections, with a 2:1 aquital makes it difficult for Attorney General to defend his appointment before High Court. Avi Dichter stressed in his press conference that he?s looking for a suitable replacement with complete ?non police/ court record or investigation,? now is in direct opposition to Ganot?s past even nearly a decade has passed since. ? A strange appointment and whom will Dichter appoint if the High Court disqualify Ganot in view of his past? Why was Karadi given the ?choice of resignation? instead of dismissal. - Previous Police Commanders under similar conditions were afforded the same ?courtesy.? Is this a way to open a new career for those ?relieved?? The reported phone conversation of PM Olmert praising and thanking for sevices rendered by ?outgoing Police Commissioner Karadi? maybe a personal nicity but political completely unacceptable. The 28,000 strong police force does not have any possible candidate for the Command of its force? If this is the case how can the public expect protection by its police. - The new Police Commissioner m u s t be a r e a l l y c o m p l e t e n o n p o l i t i c a l p e r s o n to be able to conduct independependent investigations pending or forthcoming of Israel?s ?governing elite? and of most ?influencial circles.? - We have already before us pending investigations of Israel?s Prime Minister, of Israel?s President, of Israel?s, of Minister of Finance, of Strategic Minister, top Tax Officials and the hand is ?still outstreched for new comers.? - The Zeiler Commission mentioned many cases where ?unexplanable decisions? caused the committee?s attention even leading into the relevant Ministry of Justice Department. How can present government approved appointment of independent apolitical Police Commander in Chief, existing by ?horse trading.? To recover public confidence, reliance on its completely indenpent investigation of police and the fulfilling of its duty of ?public security, personal security? will require an enormous effort and won?t be happening ?overnight.?
Policing is an honorable profession. It's a vocation for responsible, intelligent people. It's a calling for people who care about and are tuned into their community. I grew up in a very small city in America whose police department was a generally acknowledged asset. Not perfect (I was once witness for an improper parking ticket), not challenged by terror or organized crime, but honest and responsive. I would like this in Israel, not only for the benefit of the population, but also for the pride of the police themselves.
Old habits die hard, but this is ridiculous. The choice is obviously wrong, for the same reasons that the incumbent has announced his resignation. Appointment of a chief over the head of the force is liable to provoke a long period of resentment and resistance. (This happened when Karel Ancerl was named conductor of the Czech Philharmonic, so just imagine what would happen at the Israel Police.) We need a police chief with fresh vision, with new ideas, with a clean record. For the sake of police & citizens alike.
Yaakov Ganot should fit in well as a new police commisioner, he has all the right qualirications that one needs to fit in to the Israeli political system: He was indicted on charges of bribery, fraud, breach of trust and abuse of his position over three separate incidents. No wonder the public has no faith in the police force ! Prehaps he could be a likud politician as well ?
to praise outgoing corrupt officals?old boys club? no one mentioned suspending pentions, making a mocery of arguments that all these scandals show israels desire to rid itself of corruption.
Excellent question: "What does the existence of so much high level corrupt behavior say about Israeli culture?". Difficult answer. Let's see: Corruption in Israel existed always at a more or less stable level, until the late 70's. The terrible politics starting then (ex. Abuhatzeira, the French embezzler what's his name, Dayan himself with all his archeological thefts, Deri, the corrupt generals entering the market, some of the "princes", and, of course, all politicoes named in high positions by the above) increased all the time, slowly at first, and later almost exponentially. Since 2001 the Israel corruption increased, according to Transparency International Corruption Index from 16th place to 34th place in 2006. Only now, with Attorney General Mazuz, and probably because of the saturation of the corruption phenomenon, do I discern a follow-up and actual action against it. Still, a lot of corruption remains because the very top is either involved or condones it.
I don't care what the rest of the world thinks but what can we think ourselves. How depressing- another slap in the face by the Olmert-Kadima Mafia. How much are we expected to take? Avi Dichter-Have you no shame?
" Catch a thief, with a thief " ! ! ! Poor suckers, can't you find at least " ONE CLEAN ONE " in the whole Israeli Police force ? ? ? Same goes for the government , what do you think the world thinks of you this way, VERY BAD ADVERTISING for Israel ! ! !
Israeli leadership was really terrible 2000 years ago also (At once point Hasmonean dynasty brothers were fighting for the throne and one of them invited the regional power to invade on their behalf) and we know how that ended. What does the existence of so much high level corrupt behavior say about Israeli culture? I'm not defending the U.S. or anyone else's record on corruption.
Corruption sowed is corrution reaped. Nothing else needs to be said.
At least a small proportion of the corruption has been eradicated.It is an uphill battle to rid the continued corrupt officials as most have been installed by our corrupt political officers whom are still glued to the chairs they occupy.The Zeiller commision also forgot to show how deep the corrupt politicians influence the promotion of the police force.WHY?? It will be revealed one day.