Attorney General Menachem Mazuz said Monday that there is no legal reason that Yisrael Beiteinu head Avigdor Lieberman cannot be a minister, despite an ongoing police investigation into his affairs.
"A person's elevation to a senior ministry while under criminal investigation is likely to raise serious questions,” Mazuz said. “However, these are not matters for a court to decide, but rather, should be decided in the realm of politics and public opinion.”
Mazuz gave his opinion in response to a petition filed by the Movement for Quality Government, which appealed to the Supreme Court asking that Lieberman be barred from the cabinet so long as he remains under investigation. The movement also demanded that other members of Yisrael Beiteinu be kept away from positions involving law and law enforcement due to the investigation.
Mazuz assured the court that the investigation into Lieberman's affairs is a top priority, and that police plan to conclude the investigation in the near future. Lieberman's attorneys have accused police of dragging out the investigation, which involves allegations made several years ago.
Regarding other members of Yisrael Beiteinu, Mazuz said the fact that Lieberman was barred from certain positions due to a possible conflict of interest did not mean those same restrictions should be extended to every MK in his party.
"A request such as this, to ban a person as minister, even though he is not under criminal investigation, simply because the chairman of his party is under criminal investigation, would be far-reaching and cause serious damage to the party and its voters. It would be likely to create a 'handicapped party,'” Mazuz said of the demand to bar Yisrael Beiteinu MKs from certain ministries.