Retired Justice Mazuz Tapped to Head Senior Appointments Committee

The Cabinet approved Sunday the appointment of former High Court justice and Attorney General Menachem (Meni) Mazuz, as chairman of the Senior Appointments Advisory Committee.

The Senior Appointments Advisory Committee is responsible for vetting candidates for major positions, such as chief of the military, the police commissioner, head of the Shin Bet, and head of the Mossad, among other positions.

Mazuz’s selection was bitterly opposed by right-wing parties who objected to him on political grounds, as well as due to their insistence that an interim government should not engage in appointments to key positions.

Following pressure from the right, Yamina leader Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked earlier Sunday called on Alternate Prime Minister Naftali Bennett to veto the appointment, but he declined to do so.

Mazuz and his committee will likely need to choose a new IDF chief of staff in the near future. Defense Minister Benny Gantz is seeking to appoint a new IDF chief in the face of objections by the opposition.