The file against Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger might yet end up being closed without an indictment, proving to be much ado about nothing. First of all, Metzger has the right to give his version of the story, which must be reviewed impartially. But the public is used to files being closed willy-nilly and recognizes the trend. Attorney-General Yehuda Weinstein closed the file against former Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman against the wishes of prosecutors Moshe Lador and Aviah Alef. Weinstein also dropped the case against the judge who was suspected of beating his children, even though the suspicions appeared to be well-founded. The police, led by Yohanan Danino, displayed their own negligence last week by allowing the state witness in the Bar Noar shooting case to escape. His capture on Saturday night does not mitigate the severity of the mishap. A successful escape would have prevented justice from being done in that heinous murder case. The length of the legal process in Israel leaves ample room for witnesses to forget their stories, be coerced into changing their testimonies or secretly flee the country. All such scenarios would play into the hands of Metzger, who has become embroiled in a series of allegations. Where is the establishment on this issue? On Friday evening, Channel 2 crime reporter Moshe Nussbaum, who has close ties with top police officials, said that police had not arrested Metzger yet because they wanted to preserve the honor of the Chief Rabbinate. I expected a denial of this report to be issued, but none came. Preserve the honor of the Chief Rabbinate? In fact, police are doing the opposite, choosing to maintain Metzger's comfort over protecting what remains of the Chief Rabbinate's good name. The allegations against Metzger are serious, but the witnesses who are now singing to police will be wandering about for the next few months, and who knows who will approach them and what will be offered. One day, they may appear as if they have come down with Alzheimer's disease. Metzger should already have been retired by now. That is what former Attorney-General Menachem Mazuz recommended when he closed, with a sigh, a past case against Metzger in 2008. That advice was not heeded. Metzger is still in his post because the establishment long ago lost the customary norms of an enlightened democracy. In an enlightened democracy, Ariel Sharon could not have remained in office after the allegations against him in the Greek Island case, even if Mazuz erred by not indicting him, and Ehud Olmert would not be raking in millions after the bizarre verdict delivered by Musia Arad and her colleagues, which criticized Olmert even on the charges for which he was exonerated and still faces a review by the Supreme Court. Over the weekend, Metzger came in for police questioning while still serving as chief rabbi because the norms have deteriorated. In many ways, this is more dangerous than the criminal actions attributed to Metzger and others. It is unknown when Weinstein and Lador will determine the fate of the file against Metzger. It would be preferable that this be done when Metzger is already retired. This is not a suggestion to delay the investigation, but rather to choose a new chief rabbi quickly.
