Dispute between Mandablit and the political echelon over the dormitories: High Court wants an answer immediately

November 6, 2021   

The petitions filed against Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman's dormitory decree are causing controversy between the Attorney General, the government of Dr. Avichai Mandelblit, and the political echelon. Alarming: 751% of those who died from the coronavirus under the age of 60 were not vaccinated Employers can receive a financial incentive of up to NIS 22,250. How? Enter High Court judges refuse state's request to approve another delay in state's response to petitions filed, Among others, by the organization 'Truth for Yaakov'. The deadline for submitting the state's response - after the postponement - is up to 72 hours before the hearing date, i.e. until Sunday, November 7, 2021, since the hearing was set for November 10, 2021. The state requested a short extension of 24 hours from the High Court, so that its response would be submitted by November 8, 2021, but the High Court judges rejected its request and demanded that the state submit its response by today. On Friday, the Prosecutor's Office requested an additional short extension from the court to submit a response to the petition, in light of a meeting held at the Prosecutor's Office in which it was clarified that the issues arising from the petition should be brought to the Attorney General's decision. The Prosecutor's Office clarified that several hearings were recently held under the chairmanship of Attorney General Mandelblit, with the participation of senior officials in the Prime Minister's Office and the relevant ministries. Last Wednesday, November 3, a meeting was held between the Attorney General and the Prime Minister on the subject. However, despite the great effort made to resolve this issue, the Attorney General has not yet made a decision, and the Attorney General intends to make a decision in the coming days. However, as stated, the court rejected the request on the grounds that "in light of the extensions that have already been granted, and the proximity of the hearing date, the request is rejected." The petitioners' representative in the High Court, attorney Zalman Black, says: "From the state's conduct, it appears that there are significant disputes between the legal advice and the political echelon, to the point that 72 hours before the hearing of the petition, the Attorney General has not yet aligned himself with the political echelon's position, and on Wednesday the Attorney General even met with the Prime Minister so that he can try to influence a change in the political echelon's position." In the absence of the other petitioners in the High Court, attorneys Shmuel Maklev, Uriel Stern and Jonathan Feldman stated: "From the state's conduct, it appears that it understands that the decision regarding the non-subsidization of daycare centers for Abrechim was made rashly, in violation of constitutional rights, and is full of legal difficulties.".