The Israeli Supreme Court this morning ruled against the appointment of Ehud Yatom as Special Advisor to the Prime Minister for the War on Terrorism. The justices’ said that Yatom is unfit to serve in the position due to his involvement in the 1984 “Bus 300 incident,” in which GSS agents were found to have killed terrorists while interrogating them. The Arabs were captured after having hijacked a busload of Israelis. The GSS attempted to cover-up the affair. Knesset members from Meretz, Yossi Sarid and Mossy Raz were responsible for introducing the appeal to the Supreme Court.
Yatom reacted to the decision saying that, “It is a sad day for the members of the security services in Israel… anyone who gives of himself for the security of the state from the time he was eighteen years old does not see the state support him... maybe the High Court is mistaken… and it lives in an ivory tower, unaware of what is going on down here.”
Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer expressed sorrow over the court’s decision but nevertheless said that it must be honored. Minister of Infrastructure Avigdor Lieberman (Yisrael Beitenu Party) vehemently opposed the court’s decision and said that it was indicative of a mentality “reminiscent of Iran’s Ayatollahs.” He said that the court is an activist one, \"ruling again on matters beyond its jurisdiction.\" He accused the justices of using the court for their own ideological ends instead of enforcing a consistent application of the law. In addition, Lieberman stated that a large constituency of Israeli citizens are not willing to accept the extreme leftist ways of the court.
Deputy Minister of Public Security, Gideon Ezra said the decision could negatively impact the motivation of all those serving in the security services in Israel’s war against terrorism. Yossi Sarid of Meretz said that the High Court spared the Prime Minister an embarrassing and problematic appointment and that he should be thankful.
Yatom reacted to the decision saying that, “It is a sad day for the members of the security services in Israel… anyone who gives of himself for the security of the state from the time he was eighteen years old does not see the state support him... maybe the High Court is mistaken… and it lives in an ivory tower, unaware of what is going on down here.”
Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer expressed sorrow over the court’s decision but nevertheless said that it must be honored. Minister of Infrastructure Avigdor Lieberman (Yisrael Beitenu Party) vehemently opposed the court’s decision and said that it was indicative of a mentality “reminiscent of Iran’s Ayatollahs.” He said that the court is an activist one, \"ruling again on matters beyond its jurisdiction.\" He accused the justices of using the court for their own ideological ends instead of enforcing a consistent application of the law. In addition, Lieberman stated that a large constituency of Israeli citizens are not willing to accept the extreme leftist ways of the court.
Deputy Minister of Public Security, Gideon Ezra said the decision could negatively impact the motivation of all those serving in the security services in Israel’s war against terrorism. Yossi Sarid of Meretz said that the High Court spared the Prime Minister an embarrassing and problematic appointment and that he should be thankful.