A recent report released by the Israeli Ministry of Justice on Tuesday morning has shed light on a concerning aspect of the nation's legal system. Israel has emerged as a global leader in the extension of criminal proceedings, prompting a comprehensive examination of approximately 70,000 criminal cases that concluded in recent years. The initiative, a collaborative effort involving the court administration, Ministry of Justice, and the Israel Police, aimed to dissect the underlying causes contributing to the protracted nature of these legal processes. Furthermore, the endeavor sought to propose viable solutions to address this significant challenge.

The investigation identified several key factors contributing to this unfavorable trend. These included the non-appearance of defendants, delays in transferring investigative materials, extensive intervals between court hearings, and the prolonged waiting period for probation service reports.

A noteworthy discovery was the extended duration of the pre-examination of guilt phase, spanning from indictment submission to the response to the indictment. On average, this phase endured for approximately 11 months, constituting the lengthiest segment of the process. Intriguingly, the study revealed that nearly half of the cases brought before the Magistrate's Court encountered a six-month delay in locating and summoning the accused. Addressing this delay could involve streamlining the process and utilizing efficient methods to ensure a quicker resolution.

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In response to these findings, the collaborating entities outlined a multifaceted strategy to rectify the issue. Among the proposed measures, a specialized team was established with the aim of ensuring that once investigations are finalized and ready for substantive discussion, the criminal cases are assigned to impartial judges. Additionally, efforts are underway to formulate an expedited schedule for case hearings and discussions.

A significant step was the establishment of an action committee tasked with creating a comprehensive data portal. This portal would collate information related to criminal procedures from all partner organizations, facilitating in-depth analysis to identify patterns and trends. The emphasis lies on maintaining a continuous flow of data sharing among the various entities involved.

The organizers behind Israel's judicial reform protests are set to enter municipal politics on Monday evening, when they are expected to announce candidates for upcoming elections in Tel Aviv, Herzliya, Hod Hasharon, Ra'anana, and Rehovot.

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Itamar Donenfeld, the Director General of the Ministry of Justice, emphasized the "pivotal importance of promoting an efficient and equitable criminal procedure". He underscored that excessive timeframes have impeded the efficacy of legal proceedings. Acknowledging the need for transparency and cooperative efforts among all entities engaged in the criminal justice system, he emphasized that "only such collaboration would successfully identify the bottlenecks that contribute to procedural delays".