Barely 24 hours after Public Security Minister Avi Dichter announced that he was appointing Prison Services Commissioner Yakov Ganot as Police Commissioner, the appointment seems to be in doubt. The choice of Ganot, who was involved in disciplinary infractions in the 1990s, is under attack from some politicians and former judges.
IDF Radio quoted sources close to Ganot on Tuesday that he himself was considering rejecting the offer, in view of the attacks upon him. This report has already been denied by Ganot.
Minister Dichter says he hopes the Ganot appointment will pass, but thinks Ganot may be "crucified" on the way. Dichter says Ganot, while not unblemished, is a qualified professional, while other possible appointees would be "anemic" and ineffective.
Ometz, a nonprofit organization headed by former journalist Aryeh Avneri, has appealed to the Supreme Court to prevent Ganot's nomination. In addition, retired judge Yakov Tirkel, who heads a committee whose job it is to vet nominees for senior positions, said Monday he would wait for the court's decision before discussing the appointment. Former Supreme Court judges Mishael Cheshin and Yitzchak Zamir both gave TV interviews Monday in which they attacked the appointment.
Ganot was indicted on charges of corruption in 1996, regarding events that took place in 1994. He was found innocent due to lack of evidence and "reasonable doubt." Ganot's critics note that the judges were not convinced of the defendant's innocence, and his innocence was left in doubt.
The charge sheet against Ganot included the following:
- Having his house renovated by a Nazareth-based contractor for a symbolic fee
- Participating in a party the contractor held for Ganot's benefit at the contractor's expense
- Using a police officer to perform Ganot's household chores such as babysitting his son and driving him about.
In the end, Ganot was found guilty only of disciplinary infractions.
Public Security Minister Dichter said Monday that the petitions to the Supreme Court against the nomination had been predictable, and that "we trust the court and ourselves to carry out this appointment successfully." Dichter reminded reporters that the allegations against Ganot "have already had a Bar Mitzvah" – i.e., were more than 13 years old.
Some critics surmise that Ganot's nomination is a ploy by Dichter and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that is intended to fail. Police Maj.-Gen. Mickey Levy, said to be the choice for Deputy Police Chief, would then rise to the top spot. Levy is known to be a close friend of Prime Minister Olmert, and would in turn tone down the police investigations against the prime minister. However, Dichter has said that under no circumstances would he appoint Levy as Police Commissioner.