A political life is not an easy one - especially not in Israel. You have many enemies and staying in power is not easy. But many say that the best politician in Israel is not a politician at all, but rather a public servant who is supposed to be above politics.


In January 2004, Menachem, or "Menny," Mazuz, who was selected by then-Justice Minister Tommy Lapid, was appointed Attorney General. Since that time, he has not stopped causing controversy.


The AG could drag the President's name through the mud for over a year and then admit it was all a mistake.



Mazuz is accused of systematically favoring left-wing politicians and holding a bias against right-wing and religious Members of Knesset.


Now, as a result of the dropping of the rape charges against President Moshe Katzav, the Movement for Quality Government has called on the Attorney General to resign. They say there is no way the AG could drag the President's name through the mud for over a year and then admit it was all a mistake.


The current scandal is hardly the first for Mazuz, who has been accused of political bias throughout his career. For over a year now, corruption scandal after corruption scandal has been uncovered implicating Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Yet, after all this time, not a single charge has yet been filed. The Attorney General claims they are still "investigating." But many ask if the foot dragging is not simply an attempt to save the Prime Minister's skin. Now, with the latest scandal - a paper detailing Olmert's favors for supporters in the Likud Central Committee - MK Aryeh Eldad says that if Mazuz does not take swift action, then it will serve as the final proof that he is politically biased.


Attorney General Menachem Mazuz was at the center of another uproar in January, when he decided to allow Arab MK Azmi Bishara to appear on Hizbullah's Al-Manar TV station. This, in spite of the Hizbullah terrorist organization's recent war against Israel, which killed 156 Israelis. In the past, Bishara has openly called for Arab nations to attack Israel and has praised the Hizbullah for "defeating and humiliating" Israel. But Mazuz said he saw no legal reason to prevent Bishara's trip. Mazuz also refused to call for charges to be filed against Bishara for violating Israeli law by visiting an enemy nation, Syria, even though Israeli law clearly states this is a criminal offense.


In September 2005, Mazuz closed the investigation against a top Jerusalem Muslim cleric suspected of ordering the execution of fifteen Arabs who helped Israel catch terrorists.


A year later, in September 2006, Mazuz dropped a criminal investigation against former Labor MK and Minister of Communications, and current Kadima MK, Dalia Itzik. Itzik was accused of helping businessman Chaim Saban to hold on to the rights to Channel 2 TV's Keshet Broadcasting Group in exchange for a $100,000 campaign donation.


And just last week, Mazuz dropped an investigation of former Labor party leader and current Kadima MK Shimon Peres, even though Peres admitted to receiving a $320,000 gift from three businessmen.


But most of controversial of all was Mazuz's decision to let off Ariel Sharon and his son

Mazuz has been accused of launching a witch hunt against right-wing and religious figures.

Gilad in the Greek island bribery affair. Gilad admitted receiving $100,000 in the scandal, but claimed it was payment was for surfing the Internet. In June 2004, Mazuz blatantly overturned the decision by former State Prosecutor Edna Arbel calling for charges to be filed against Sharon, thereby infuriating her. Chief Justice Mishael Cheshin said later that the decision to let Sharon off was politically motivated, in order to permit the destruction of Gush Katif to be carried out.


Critics say that the only reason Prime Minister Olmert is facing a criminal investigation in another corruption file, the Bank Leumi scandal, is because Mazuz was forced to withdraw from the case. His sister Yemima is involved.


On the other hand, Mazuz has been accused of launching a witch hunt against right-wing and religious figures.


In February 2005, Mazuz called for lifting Shas MK Yair Peretz's parliamentary immunity to permit charging him with fraud and related counts. Also in February 2005, Mazuz tried to prevent Jewish rights activist Moshe Feiglin from running for the Knesset, and he even tried to appeal the election commissioner's decision allowing Feiglin to be a candidate.


Two months later, Mazuz called for Chief Rabbi Yonah Metzger to resign his post for allegedly receiving a free night at a Jerusalem Hotel, even though Mazuz admitted there was insufficient evidence to charge the rabbi. Even Israel's Supreme Court criticized Mazuz for that decision.


Mazuz is accused of holding a politicized, biased agenda and ruling in favor of the Left when making legal decisions.


In February 2004, Mazuz told a gathering of the Israel Bar Association in Eilat that he had understanding for soldiers who refused orders. At the time, all the talk was of left-wing soldiers refusing to serve in the administered territories.


"I have much understanding and sympathy for every conscientious objector," he said. "It can be a positive phenomenon that expresses social involvement and caring."


In contrast, in February of 2005, Mazuz told the very same lawyers' gathering that he would come down hard, with the full might of the law, on right-wing, anti-retreat activists practicing civil disobedience, calling their actions "seditious." He promised to deal with them harshly and expeditiously. Mazuz later threatened right- wing demonstrators who blocked roads with up to 20 years in jail, even though university students who did the very same thing in tuition protests were not only not jailed, but were not even charged with a crime.


In April of 2004, Mazuz took the side of the far-left Peace Now group in calling for Judea and Samaria to be termed "occupied territory," even though experts such as Prof. Talia Einhorn said that there is no such need under international law.


In March 2005, Attorney General Mazuz strongly criticized the Ministry of Education for allowing teenagers jailed for blocking roads to take matriculation exams in prison. Public

Mazuz ordered the stopping of buses bringing protesters to a demonstration in Sderot.

Security Minister Gideon Ezra, now a Kadima MK, criticized Mazuz, noting that even terrorists serving time for murder are allowed to take courses and tests - and even complete university degrees - behind bars.


In July 2005, in what critics say was a grave blow to democracy, Mazuz ordered the stopping of buses bringing protesters to a demonstration in Sderot against the retreat from Gaza.


In contrast, Mazuz supported a decision in November 2006 to allow homosexual activists to march in Jerusalem, even though this was opposed by the overwhelming majority of the city's residents. Mazuz said they had a right to march that overrode any danger of violence. MK Eldad called for Mazuz to apply the same principles to the rights of Jews to worship on the Temple Mount. But Mazuz ignored the request.


With increasing anger at so many of Mazuz's decisions, many wonder how much longer he will be able to enjoy the Teflon image he currently holds in the media.