Former State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss Passes Away

Former State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss, , was niftar on Thursday. He was 82. Funeral arrangements were not yet announced Thursday afternoon, after the family confirmed his passing. He is survived by a wife and three daughters.

Lindenstrauss had a long record in public service, topped by his term as State Comptroller, a position he held between 2005 and 2012. He was born in Berlin in 1937 and migrated to Israel in 1939 with his family. A law graduate of Hebrew University, he worked as Chief IDF military prosecutor between 1965 and 1972, signing on for IDF service beyond his required three year stint. In 1972 he was appointed a judge, and served in various courts, including traffic, civil, juvenile and appeals courts.

His term as State Comptroller was notable for his use of special reports on specific issues, instead of just the annual report traditionally issued by the office. Among the most significant of the 44 such special reports he issued was one summarizing an investigation into the 2011 Carmel Forest fire.

MK Avi Nissenkorn, who chairs the Blue and White faction of the Knesset and who worked closely with Lindenstrauss when the latter was an activist in the Histadrut, said that “Israel has lost one of its most loyal public servants. Justice Lindenstrauss fought against corruption and for the proper rule of law, as well as for fair treatment of all citizens. The legacy he left behind in public service will be felt for many years to come.”