The rabbi’s attorney, former justice minister David Libai turned to the nation’s highest court to have Mazuz’s remarks calling for Rabbi Metzger resignation to be removed from the legal record.
Mazuz recently announced that a criminal indictment would not be filed against the chief rabbi, because the state does not have enough evidence to prosecute Rabbi Metzger on bribery charges. Mazuz went on, however, to claim that the chief rabbi lied to investigators, changing his story a number of times.
As such, Mazuz recommended Rabbi Metzger step down, adding he is not fit to serve in his senior position. If Rabbi Metzger does not resign, Mazuz stated he would be compelled to turn to the committee that appoints rabbinical justices to act towards the chief rabbi's removal.
Supreme Court Justice Dorit Beinish stated in her ruling that the attorney general’s position “lacks substance” and it does not compel the justice minister, who heads the judicial appointments committee, to comply.
Beinish recommended Rabbi Metzger be granted a hearing to explain his version of the events prior to bringing the matter before the committee.
Libai questions Mazuz’s actions, citing that while Mazus admits the evidence does not warrant an indictment on the one hand, yet recommends that Rabbi Metzger step down from his post as chief rabbi.
Libai pointed out that in other investigations conducted by Mazuz against senior public officials including Tzachi Hanegbi, Binyamin Netanyahu, Roni Bar-On, and Police Commander Mizrachi, the cases were closed without recommendations that any of the officials step down.
Libai added that it is unacceptable that Mazuz states the chief rabbi did not tell the truth, while he was never granted a hearing to tell his side of the events. The suggestion that he be permitted a hearing before Justice Minister Chaim Ramon is rejected by Libai, who explains such a hearing must take place in a court of law, not before a “politically appointed minister.”
Chief Rabbi Metzger was investigated for allegedly accepting hotel services from two Jerusalem hotels during his current tenure. Rabbi Metzger denies the allegations and a comprehensive police investigation did not result in an indictment.
After the case against him was closed, Rabbi Metzger recently credited the hotels for the amounts in question, a total of some NIS 7,000, less than $2,000, in an effort to further eliminate any blemish to his name.
Mazuz recently announced that a criminal indictment would not be filed against the chief rabbi, because the state does not have enough evidence to prosecute Rabbi Metzger on bribery charges. Mazuz went on, however, to claim that the chief rabbi lied to investigators, changing his story a number of times.
As such, Mazuz recommended Rabbi Metzger step down, adding he is not fit to serve in his senior position. If Rabbi Metzger does not resign, Mazuz stated he would be compelled to turn to the committee that appoints rabbinical justices to act towards the chief rabbi's removal.
Supreme Court Justice Dorit Beinish stated in her ruling that the attorney general’s position “lacks substance” and it does not compel the justice minister, who heads the judicial appointments committee, to comply.
Beinish recommended Rabbi Metzger be granted a hearing to explain his version of the events prior to bringing the matter before the committee.
Libai questions Mazuz’s actions, citing that while Mazus admits the evidence does not warrant an indictment on the one hand, yet recommends that Rabbi Metzger step down from his post as chief rabbi.
Libai pointed out that in other investigations conducted by Mazuz against senior public officials including Tzachi Hanegbi, Binyamin Netanyahu, Roni Bar-On, and Police Commander Mizrachi, the cases were closed without recommendations that any of the officials step down.
Libai added that it is unacceptable that Mazuz states the chief rabbi did not tell the truth, while he was never granted a hearing to tell his side of the events. The suggestion that he be permitted a hearing before Justice Minister Chaim Ramon is rejected by Libai, who explains such a hearing must take place in a court of law, not before a “politically appointed minister.”
Chief Rabbi Metzger was investigated for allegedly accepting hotel services from two Jerusalem hotels during his current tenure. Rabbi Metzger denies the allegations and a comprehensive police investigation did not result in an indictment.
After the case against him was closed, Rabbi Metzger recently credited the hotels for the amounts in question, a total of some NIS 7,000, less than $2,000, in an effort to further eliminate any blemish to his name.