Livni to appoint Amy Palmer as Justice Ministry director-general

Palmer has headed the pardons department since 2000 and prior to that post had served as a prosecutor in the State Attorney's Office.

By YONAH JEREMY BOB
Justice Minister Tzipi Livni 370 (photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Post)
Justice Minister Tzipi Livni 370
(photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Post)
Justice Minister Tzipi Livni on Sunday announced that she would appoint Amy Palmer, current head of the ministry's pardons department, as the new director-general to replace Guy Rotkopf in the coming month.
Rotkopf is completing his seven year term as director-general and announced that he would be stepping down about a month ago.
Palmer has headed the pardons department since 2000 and prior to that post had served as a prosecutor in the State Attorney's Office.
The director-general is the top bureaucrat in the ministry and makes crucial personnel and policy decisions along with the Justice Minister, the Attorney-General and the State Attorney, including helping select the State Attorney.
During her tenure, Palmer has had varied responsibilities, such as assisting various ministers of justice on issues related to locating missing IDF soldiers.
Palmer also coordinated the release of security prisoners in the various exchanges with the Palestinian Authority, Hamas and others.
With regard to those exchanges, Palmer spearheaded establishing a unified analytical database between the ministry, the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) and various military units relating to those security prisoners.
Livni said she was "impressed with Amy Palmer's professionalism, personability, her ability to problem-solve and the efficient and effective advancement of issues of which she was in charge."
She added, "the fact that we are speaking about a woman, is also an important factor for me, beyond her proven talents, her being part of the system for years, her familiarity with the ministry and ministry employees' familiarity with her."
Rotkopf said, "I applaud this excellent choice. Ms. Palmer has proven her exemplary professional, administrative and personal talents over many years."
"I have no doubt that she will lead the office with certainty and success in accomplishing its objectives."