Supreme Court Justice Edmond Levy dies at 72

Former Supreme Court Justice Edmond Levy died Tuesday at the Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem at the age of 72. His funeral has been set for Wednesday at 3:30 p.m., at the Ramla cemetery. Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, Chief Justice Asher Grunis and Supreme Court Justice Esther Hayut are scheduled to speak at the service.

"I bow my head at the passing of Supreme Court Justice Edmond Levy," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement issued on Thursday night. "He left an indelible mark on the Supreme Court. Levy possessed a sharp, independent intellect, which was extraordinary, and he had an impressive ability to analyze complex situations. Always straight as an arrow, he never shied away from expressing his opinion on controversial issues and he always had the best interest of the State of Israel and the public at heart."

"Justice Levy's appointment to the Supreme Court was not a given, especially in a society where one's social affiliation would often influence the choice of Supreme Court judges," Livni eulogized Levy in a statement issued Tuesday. "He was a bold judicial activist, who was never afraid to express his professional truth, even when it was highly controversial. His ruling expressed high social awareness and extraordinary sensitivity. He was a champion of constitutional and social rights. We have lost a stellar jurist. I offer his family my deepest condolences. May he rest in peace," she said.

Retired Chief Justice Dorit Beinisch said she was "shocked to learn of Edmond's sudden passing. He was a wonderful, noble man; a man of morals and humility, which were evident in his rulings. His judicial path coincided with his values and his faith."

Retired Supreme Court Justice Jacob Turkel told Channel 2 that Levy "had great social sensibilities. One of his most prominent characteristics was his humility, which is very important in a judge."

Housing and Construction Minister Uri Ariel lamented Levy's passing, saying, "I had the privilege of working with him on the Judges Selection Committee. I came to appreciate how in tune he was with the public's sentiments as well as his ability to faithfully represent the judiciary. I send my condolences to his family."

The Yesha Council, the umbrella organization of municipal councils of Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria, issued a statement saying, "The Yesha Council mourns the passing of Supreme Court Justice Edmond Levy. The State of Israel and the settlement enterprise have lost an important advocate and a friend to Jewish heritage."

The Legal Forum for the Land of Israel eulogized Levy, saying, "Supreme Court Justice Edmond Levy was a clear and loud voice and he never cowered before the majority [opinion] in the Supreme Court."

Deputy Foreign Minister Zeev Elkin said, "We all mourn Levy's death. He was a great man who followed his values and his inner truth without fear or reservation."

Born in October 1941 in Iraq, Levy immigrated with his family to Israel when he was 10 years old. He enrolled in the Hebrew University in Jerusalem's Faculty of Law following his military service, and worked at the Ramla Magistrates' Court's cafeteria during his studies. He continues to work at the courthouse, slowly rising through its administrative ranks to the position of court secretary, until 1970, when he passed the Israeli bar exam and opened a small, independent law firm in Ramla.

Levy's career in the judiciary saw him serve as a military court judge and a Magistrates', District and Supreme Court judge. He was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2000, and in 2008 he was named to the Judges Selection Committee. He retired in 2011, after 11 years of service.

Specializing in criminal justice, Levy most notably presided over the 1996 trial of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin's assassin, Yigal Amir. He also presided over multiple hearings on the various petitioned filed against the state's intention to offer a plea bargain to former President Moshe Katsav, who in 2010 was convicted of rape.

Throughout his career, Levy was known for his judicial activism and for holding the minority opinion on the bench more often than not. At the time, he was the only High Court justice to oppose the 2005 disengagement plan from Gaza Strip, ruling it was "unconstitutional."

In 2012, the prime minister named Levy as head of a government committee tasked with exploring legalities pertaining to the Judea and Samaria settlement enterprise. In its highly controversial findings, the committee concluded that the majority of the contested area could not be considered "occupied territory" under international law, as it was never under Jordan's rule.

In 2011, MK and former Justice Minister Meir Sheetrit spoke with Israel Hayom exclusively about the need to appoint a judge of Mizrahi descent to the Supreme Court. "When I was the justice minister, I named Edmond Levy to the bench. Many opposed the appointment, but I stated that no other judge would be appointed until he was confirmed," Sheetrit said. "As history has shown, he was one of the best judges the Supreme Court has ever had."

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