The State Prosecutor's Office informed the High Court of Justice on Monday that it found no legal grounds to contest appointing Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman as Israel's next foreign minister.
The State was responding to a petition filed by the Movement for Quality Government in Israel, demanding Lieberman be disqualified from office due to the police investigations against him.
"The petition focuses on issues regarding the political and public spheres, not the legal one," said the State's brief, adding that while allowing a person subjected to a criminal investigation serve in such a high government office is problematic, it is not a matter for the court to rule on, but rather a matter for the public to decide on.
The State further informed the court that the investigation against Yisrael Beiteinu's chairman is in its final stages and that its sensitive nature has made it a top priority for the police.
Nevertheless, added the brief, since the inquiry is an ongoing one, it is too soon to tell whether the police will have the necessary evidence to indict Lieberman - and if so – what charges would such an indictment include.
Any decisions regarding the appropriateness of the nomination are for the Knesset to make, concluded the State.
As for the second issue raised by the Movement for Quality Government, pertaining to the nomination of a member of Yisrael Beiteinu to the Public Security Ministry, the State said that though a shadow of conflict of interest may apply, there is no legal grounds to prevent such a nomination.
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