Breaking Update
High Court Rules Government Does Not Need a Competitive Process to Select New Civil Service Commissioner
Israel's High Court of Justice ruled the government is not legally required to hold a competitive process to select a new Civil Service Commissioner.
Jerusalem, 8 February, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s High Court of Justice ruled that the appointment of the Civil Service Commissioner does not require a competitive process.
The ruling overturned a previous ruling issued in May 2025, and determined that the government is not obligated by law to hold a competitive procedure for the purpose of the appointment.
Over the years, Civil Service Commissioners have been appointed through varying procedures, usually through a special appointments committee that examined a single candidate proposed by the government. Following petitions filed against the government’s decision to continue this practice, the court ruled in June 2025 that the government must establish a permanent mechanism based on a competitive process. A request for further hearing was filed on this decision, which was accepted by an expanded panel.
The majority opinion determined that there is no normative source that requires the government to resort to a competitive procedure.
