The High Court of Justice said on Tuesday the work of the committee that approved the appointment of Maj. Gen. Roman Gofman as the next director of Mossad was “deficient,” asking it to review a key matter at the heart of petitions against the appointment.

The court said the Senior Appointments Advisory Committee had not obtained a complete picture of the affair in question, since it did not examine relevant documentation or hear from key individuals in the affair.

In a unanimous decision, the court asked the panel to review new documents on the manner and interview two figures central to the controversy over Gofman’s appointment.

The court’s decision could have a decisive impact on the case, since the panel could potentially decide that its previous decision to recommend that Gofman be appointed was based on an incomplete picture of the incident, and reverse its position.

The court asked the committee to inform it by May 21 if it will conduct the requested steps, and if so, to complete this work by May 26.

The court recommended, specifically, that the committee review an affidavit submitted on Sunday by a military intelligence officer identified only by the initial “Gimmel,” who had knowledge of the affair, and to interview Gimmel himself.

The court also recommended that the committee hear from Ori Elmakayes, a petitioner against Gofman’s appointment and the individual at the center of the allegations against the general.

Once the committee has interviewed Gimmel and Elmakayes, Gofman could then be allowed to respond to the new information, the court said.

Gofman was tapped as the next head of Mossad in April, but several petitions were filed........

© The Times of Israel