Israeli top court names four new judges

An Israeli committee named on Wednesday four new judges for the country's highest court, in a controversial choice that includes a settler, two conservatives and an Arab judge.

According to the Judicial Selection Committee announcement on Wednesday night, the list includes David Mintz, a resident of Dolev, a Jewish settlement northwest of Ramallah city in the West Bank. He is currently serving as a judge in the Jerusalem District Court.

Mintz was born in Britain in 1959 and he is a graduated the Har Etzion Yeshiva in the settlement of Alon Shvut and later a rabbinical seminary in Jerusalem.

His candidacy was backed by Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked of the pro-settler party of the Jewish Home.

Yael Wilner, a Haifa District Court justice identified with the nationalistic religious movement in Israel, and Yosef Elron, head of the Haifa District Court, are also widely considered as conservative judges.

George Kara, a Tel Aviv District Court judge, is the second Arab jurisprudent to be appointed to the Supreme Court. He is expected to serve as the only Arab justice in the 15-member court after Justice Salim Jubran will step down in the next few months.

Following the announcement, Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked tweeted: "Congratulations to the new judges. Finally, a humane and judicial variety that is necessary as a mirror for the people of Israel. I wish them success!" Endit