Mazuz: Rabbi Metzger unfit for office

Attorney General Menachem Mazuz presented the High Court with a brief Monday, stating that Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi of Israel Yona Metzger "is unfit to be chief rabbi and his tenure should be terminated."

Rabbi Metzger has been under investigation for allegedly receiving illicit benefits, after it was found that he and he family stayed in various Jerusalem hotels, paying little-to-nothing for their stay. Mazuz decided there was not enough evidence to indict Metzger on criminal charges, but did recommend he be dismissed.

Five months ago, the religious judges' election committee – headed by Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann – decided not to terminate Metzger's tenure, prompting the OMETS group: Citizens for Proper Administration, Social Justice and Moral Strength, to petition the High Court in order to make him step down.

Mazuz did, however, note in his brief that only the religious judges' election committee has the authority to terminate Metzger's tenure; and even though the Attorney General's Office did not support the committee's decision, it has the full authority to make it and therefore the High Court has no real say in the matter.

Rabbi Metzger communications' director, Amir Dan said in response that "the attorney general stipulated that the High Court cannot intervene in the religious judges' election committee's decision not to impeach Rabbi Metzger.

"The attorney general further stipulated that the committee is the only body authorized to make any such a decision," he added.