Lindenstrauss expected to hand Galant findings to A-G

State Comptroller questions incoming chief of general staff; Weinstein set to decide whether to continue defending Galant.

By JPOST.COM STAFF, YAAKOV KATZ
Galant 311 (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
Galant 311
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss was expected to present Attorney-General Yehuda Weinstein Wednesday evening with his findings in an investigation over suspicions that Chief of General Staff-designate Maj.-Gen. Yoav Galant illegally seized land near his home in Moshav Amikam.
Lindenstrauss questioned Galant on Sunday for nearly four hours, specifically about allegations that he seized 35 dunams, and about an allegedly false affidavit that he filed to the land committee. Galant reportedly explained the circumstances behind the appropriation of the land and denied lying in any legal document.
RELATED:Lindenstrauss to question Galant on land seizureCourt demands details on Galant’s real estate improprieties
Galant has been designated to replace Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi on February 14, but there is a possibility that the appointment will be delayed by the investigation.
Last Thursday, Galant’s attorneys submitted written responses to the state comptroller regarding suspicions that the top officer illegally seized state land and then allegedly lied about it in a subsequent legal battle with his neighbors.
After receiving Lindenstrauss’s report, Weinstein will need to decide if his office will continue to represent Galant in the Green Movement’s petition against his appointment to the High Court of Justice. The High Court will reconvene on February 1.
The State Attorney’s Office has come under fire for representing Galant in the ongoing legal proceedings before the High Court of Justice. A week ago, Deputy State Attorney Shai Nitzan admitted that “there may have been some mistakes in the handling of the Galant investigation.”
If Weinstein and the High Court decide to delay Galant’s appointment until they can complete a thorough investigation of the allegations, Defense Minister Ehud Barak will need to choose a temporary chief of staff to serve in the interim between Ashkenazi’s retirement and a final decision on the Galant case.


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