The High Court of Justice has issued an interim injunction preventing Justice Minister Yariv Levin from advancing new appointments or selecting a director for the Department of Internal Police Investigations (DIU) at this time. This decision comes amidst ongoing legal proceedings and petitions filed by the Movement for Quality Government and the Israel Bar Association, which seek to halt the implementation of structural changes promoted by the government for the department.
As reported by News 13, the appointment process, which underwent updates and an extension of the application deadline, was intended to reach its peak during the sensitive period preceding the elections. The legal debate surrounding the Minister's authority and the appointment of DIU officials touches on the core tension between the executive branch and law enforcement agencies. Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara presented a position to the High Court expressing deep reservation regarding these changes, warning that transferring the subordination of investigative and prosecutorial bodies under the direct influence of the political echelon could lead to a compromise in the legitimacy of the state's exercise of coercive power.
According to the Attorney General, the amendment creates an unprecedented and dangerous legal reality for individual rights. Under the new law, scheduled for full implementation in 2027, new powers were defined for the head of the DIU, including the authority to resolve jurisdictional disputes regarding the transfer of files between different investigative bodies. The arguments raised in the petitions include concerns regarding the politicization of the selection process for the department's director, as the committee selecting the director is composed largely of the Minister's representatives.
Additionally, concerns were raised regarding the broad implications of the law, which could grant politicians significant influence over investigative proceedings. According to News 13 reports, retired District Court Judge Moshe Drori was mentioned as a leading candidate for the position on behalf of the Justice Minister. Now that the interim injunction has been issued, the appointment proceedings are fully frozen. The practical implication for the public and law enforcement agencies is that the status quo in the DIU is maintained at least until a final judicial decision on the petitions is rendered.
This is a dramatic development that underscores judicial intervention in constitutional changes seeking to alter the power balance between the elected echelon and the judiciary. The Ministry of Justice has not yet responded to details beyond the proceedings reported in court, and the entire issue awaits the final ruling of the High Court panel, which will be required to decide on the legality of the structural amendments to the Department of Internal Police Investigations.