Comptroller Englman warns: "The State Audit is essential for state security during wartime as well. There is severe and unprecedented erosion of one of the fundamental values in a democratic state – the value of assuming responsibility"
He further added: "There is not one single person among the elected officials, public functionaries, military personnel and the defense establishment personnel who has met the appropriate standard, and at the right time, in all matters pertaining to the fulfillment of the value of assuming responsibility".
Today (3.9.24), State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman took part in the ceremony marking the start of the legal year at the Bar Association office in Tel Aviv. In his speech, he related to the difficulties facing the State Audit at this time:
"We will soon be marking one year since the cruel massacre attack on Simchat Torah on October 7th. At this time, we must justly point to one of the hardest and most severe outcomes that occurred during the course of the months that have passed since the disaster: A severe and unprecedented erosion of one of the fundamental values in a democratic state – the value of assuming responsibility.
As far back as October 10th I announced in Sderot that the State Audit would leave no stone unturned to reach the truth and point to the responsibility of the parties concerned, from all echelons.
Comptroller Englman at the Tel Aviv Bar Association's opening ceremony of the legal year
As of September 2024, in Israel – there is no assumption of personal responsibility accompanied by action – not at the political echelon, not at the defense and military echelon and not at the civilian echelon. The opposite is the case – the citizens of Israel are experiencing tendentious leaks aimed at none other than imposing responsibility on another party.
However, no less serious – there is no audit, examination or objective investigation moving forward without interference, blocks and hold-ups – in preparation for laying its findings on the table of the Israeli public. That same public which demands to receive explanations for the disaster it experienced.
Yes, we must look in the mirror and rightly state – there was not one single person among the elected officials, public functionaries, military personnel and the defense establishment personnel who has met the appropriate standard, and at the right time, in all matters pertaining to the fulfillment of the value of assuming responsibility. And, simultaneously, some of the public and governmental systems, where the value of assuming responsibility has been eroded for months, are the same ones that are adopting concrete actions aimed at preventing or delaying any objective, professional and unbiased examination, investigation or audit.
The military system, for its part, with the backing of the Attorney General, has placed as a matter of fact high and impenetrable walls that in practice lead to thwarting of the audit; the Prime Minister's Office, for its part, even if supplying materials, is still placing obstacles, which delay and interfere with the required professional action.
These points, each one on a different level of severity, do not broadcast the moral and public resilience expected from them, founded upon a willingness for concrete audit, without restriction, even if its results are hard-hitting and difficult.
We should not delude ourselves; it is very doubtful whether it will be possible to rehabilitate this value in the future. Its erosion, and some will say its abandonment at this time, in such a severe fashion, is liable to be irreversible.
The State Audit during wartime is complex but essential for the democratic fabric of the State of Israel. Our commitment is to all the citizens of Israel and all the echelons will be required to realize their responsibility".
