Civil Service Commissioner Faces Questions Over Attorney General Retirement

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara recently celebrated her 67th retirement age, sparking debate over whether she should step down under civil service laws. Section 18(a) of the Civil Service Law (Pensions) mandates that employees retire at retirement age unless specific extensions are granted. Reports indicate that Baharav-Miara has not submitted a formal request to extend her tenure beyond retirement age, yet the Civil Service Commissioner has not ordered her termination.

Coalition Criticism and Legal Precedents

Coalition figures have questioned why the newly appointed Civil Service Commissioner, Doron Cohen, has not exercised his authority to enforce the mandatory retirement. The Civil Service Commission has reportedly pointed to the precedent of former Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein, who continued serving past his retirement age. However, critics argue that relying on this precedent reflects hesitation to confront the legal establishment, pointing out that government resolutions cannot override explicit statutory retirement requirements.

Regulatory Guidelines and Lack of Response

According to Civil Service Commission guidelines from 2024, rules regarding service extensions apply even to senior officials in fixed-term positions who reach retirement age. Despite the lack of an extension request from Baharav-Miara, the Commission has avoided ordering the termination of her tenure. When approached for comment, the Commission responded late by claiming no official inquiry had been received from the coalition while ignoring broader questions, and the Attorney General's office provided no response.

"The reliance on past precedent reflects a reluctance to confront the judicial system when the statutory obligation is clear," coalition sources stated regarding the ongoing tenure controversy.