About two weeks ago, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir signed an order appointing six members of bereaved families as official inspectors for the implementation of the death penalty law for terrorists.
The appointment grants them supervisory and control powers over the implementation of the law, including the ability to visit prisoners sentenced to death and supervise the implementation of the law in accordance with its provisions.
The appointment was made under the authority of the Minister under the Prisons Ordinance - which states: "No access to a person sentenced to death shall be permitted, except for a person whom the Minister has authorized to serve as an official inspector for the purpose of this section under Section 71." Section 71 states: "The Minister of Police shall appoint official inspectors to prisons. Such appointment may be for a particular prison or part thereof or for types of prisons and may be general.".
Last week, the Ombudsman sent a letter to Ben Gvir, through her deputy Sharon Afek, which read: "Due to the sensitivity of the issue, until the legal investigation is completed... the appointments of citizens to the position should be frozen.".
In a letter of reply sent on behalf of Minister Ben Gvir, the minister wrote that the appointment is based on a solid legal foundation, and that he rejects the words of the Attorney General.
