Public Security Minister Tzachi HaNegbi has asked to be relieved of his responsibilities until the conclusion of the criminal investigation against him. Attorney-General Meni Mazuz instructed the police yesterday to open an investigation into the plethora of political appointments HaNegbi made while serving as Minister of the Environment.
HaNegbi will serve as a Minister Without Portfolio for the duration, and it is likely that Gideon Ezra will succeed him. Ezra was a Minister Without Portfolio until three months ago when he was appointed to succeed Benny Elon as Tourism Minister; Elon was fired because of his anti-disengagement views. Ezra has served in the past as Deputy Minister for Public Security.
HaNegbi, who did not suspend himself in the past when the police investigated him in other cases - which were later closed - said that it is not proper for him to continue in his position as supervisor of the police while the police department is investigating him. Justice Minister Tommy Lapid, who expressed satisfaction at Mazuz's decision - "It's high time we put an end to this matter of political appointments," he said - is of the opinion that the Justice Ministry's department for the investigation of policemen should conduct the investigation.
Mazuz, meeting yesterday with top Justice Ministry officials, concluded that the report released last week by State Comptroller Eliezer Goldberg includes sufficient evidence against HaNegbi to justify a criminal investigation. Goldberg wrote in the report that HaNegbi's scores of political appointments were "a gross violation of the law and rules of proper administration" and "constituted a politicization of the civil service and use of public resources to promote personal political interests." Shmuel Hershkovitz, who served as Director-General of the Environment Ministry under HaNegbi, will also be investigated.
HaNegbi will serve as a Minister Without Portfolio for the duration, and it is likely that Gideon Ezra will succeed him. Ezra was a Minister Without Portfolio until three months ago when he was appointed to succeed Benny Elon as Tourism Minister; Elon was fired because of his anti-disengagement views. Ezra has served in the past as Deputy Minister for Public Security.
HaNegbi, who did not suspend himself in the past when the police investigated him in other cases - which were later closed - said that it is not proper for him to continue in his position as supervisor of the police while the police department is investigating him. Justice Minister Tommy Lapid, who expressed satisfaction at Mazuz's decision - "It's high time we put an end to this matter of political appointments," he said - is of the opinion that the Justice Ministry's department for the investigation of policemen should conduct the investigation.
Mazuz, meeting yesterday with top Justice Ministry officials, concluded that the report released last week by State Comptroller Eliezer Goldberg includes sufficient evidence against HaNegbi to justify a criminal investigation. Goldberg wrote in the report that HaNegbi's scores of political appointments were "a gross violation of the law and rules of proper administration" and "constituted a politicization of the civil service and use of public resources to promote personal political interests." Shmuel Hershkovitz, who served as Director-General of the Environment Ministry under HaNegbi, will also be investigated.