“Give whistleblowers a place of honor in Israeli society”

On May 8, 2025, President Isaac Herzog awarded certificates of recognition to public employees recommended by State Comptroller and Ombudsman Matanyahu Englman for their contributions to upholding integrity in public service.

• Or Malka received the certificate for reporting, during her mandatory service as a prison guard in a security detention facility operated by the Israel Prison Service, information to the State Comptroller’s Office about sexual harassment experienced by female service members on social media by released security prisoners who had been held in such facilities. According to the Comptroller’s recommendation: "Ms. Malka contributed to the formulation of some of the findings related to the Israel Prison Service and to the recommendation regarding the need for comprehensive protective measures for correctional officers even after their discharge, as stated in the special interim report, ‘Protection of Mandatory Service Personnel (Male and Female Soldiers) in Units of the Ministry of National Security,’ published in November 2022.”

• Salah Hussein received the certificate in recognition of his long-standing role as treasurer of the Fureidis Local Council, during which he steadfastly protected public funds despite facing considerable pressure, including repeated threats and even physical assaults. According to the Comptroller’s recommendation: “Mr. Hussein made a significant contribution to the findings in the subsection ‘Harassment of Treasurers,’ which appeared in the report entitled ‘The Comptroller, the Treasurer, and the Legal Advisor in Local Authorities – Their Role and Conduct,’ published in October 2021.  Mr. Hussein cooperated with the audit team and disclosed numerous documents that helped shape the report.”

At the recognition ceremony, President Herzog said: “It is deeply moving to gather and express appreciation, especially in such difficult times. It is important to highlight values that must be held in the highest regard, such as exposing corruption in the public service in order to keep it clean, for the benefit of the public.”

“Two outstanding recipients were chosen, and I want to thank you for demonstrating extraordinary courage. It’s important to say: this kind of act requires going against the tide. It involves difficult moments, both personally and within one’s family. But ultimately, it serves a noble purpose.  We want a public service that is pure and clean; we want a country free of corruption.  May you be blessed for your integrity and bravery. Thank you.  May we continue doing all we can to make this country better.”
State Comptroller Englman added that “protecting whistleblowers is a cornerstone in safeguarding integrity in the public sector. I am working to expand and strengthen the protections afforded to whistleblowers. Experience has shown that even employees who are granted a protective order continue to face serious challenges – especially social isolation and alienation, psychological, financial, and health-related pressures. To address this, we developed a framework within the Ombudsman’s Office to support whistleblowers and their families, offering guidance and care provided by a clinical social worker.”

In April 2024, the Office of the State Comptroller and Ombudsman published a comprehensive and innovative study, conducted by the Brookdale Institute, examining the effectiveness of whistleblower protection in Israel over the past decade. 
The study found that the average duration of an inquiry conducted by the Ombudsman’s Office is approximately 11 months, compared to proceedings in the Labor Court, which last on average approximately 2 years and 9 months. 
“As public servants entrusted with safeguarding integrity, we must empower whistleblowers and give them a place of honor in Israeli society,” emphasized Comptroller Englman. “For example, the information provided by Or Malka enhanced the protection of female conscripts. Awarding certificates of recognition is a highly meaningful step toward that goal.”