Israel’s Whistleblower Protection System: Shielding Against Financial Crime
The Office of the State Comptroller and Ombudsman in Israel plays a significant role in protecting employees who expose financial crimes and corruption by providing them with necessary protection measures. This article explores the mechanisms and instances of whistleblower protection in the Jewish state.
Whistleblower Protection in Israel: A Shield against Retaliation
The Israeli Ombudsman, part of the Office of the State Comptroller, has the power to grant protection orders to shield employees from retaliation after they report suspicions of financial crimes or other irregularities in their workplaces. The orders include:
- Transfer to another position
- Special compensation
- Revoking dismissals
- Facilitating agreements between parties
Breaches of protection orders are considered criminal or disciplinary offenses. The Ombudsman has issued numerous protection orders in the past few years, preventing dismissals, ensuring fair employment, and safeguarding the employees’ rights.
Protecting Whistleblowers: More than Just a Legal Matter
The Israeli Ombudsman goes beyond legal protection, striving to strengthen and widen the scope of whistleblower protection. Some of their efforts include:
- Assigning a psychologist for one-on-one support for whistleblowers and their families dealing with stress and upheaval
- Assisting in finding alternative employment for those who are let go
- Initiated an amendment to the Legal Aid Law to allow whistleblowers to receive legal aid without meeting the financial need requirement
- Threatened whistleblowers may also be referred to the Israel Witness Protection Authority for safety
A Unique Approach to Fighting Corruption
Israel stands out as the only country combining the functions of a State Comptroller and an Ombudsman within a single office. This unique setup is invaluable in the war against corruption, as the State Comptroller-cum-Ombudsman plays a role as both an investigator of financial misconduct and an advocate for employees who come forward with suspicious activity.
Success Stories: Protecting the Brave
Here are a few landmark cases illustrating the Israeli Ombudsman’s role in defending whistleblowers against retaliation:
- Deputy Municipal Engineer: The Ombudsman successfully prevented the dismissal of a deputy municipal engineer who assisted the Police in investigating criminal offenses within the municipality.
- Managing Director: The protection of a managing director of a municipal company who refused to employ political activists working for both the company chairman and the local authority head.
- Assistant Prosecutor: An assistant prosecutor in a municipality who warned against the giving of political bribes and the involvement of the political echelon in professional consideration of the municipal prosecution received a protection order.
- Employees: Three employees at a local council who were facing dismissals following their exposure of irregularities in the council’s finances received protection orders from the Ombudsman.
Conclusion
Israel’s dedication to protecting whistleblowers plays a crucial role in the country’s ongoing fight against financial crime. With increasingly more protection orders issued and a broader range of protective measures, the Ombudsman stands as a beacon for employees in need of support and encouragement. Together, the Office of the State Comptroller and Ombudsman’s unified efforts lay the foundation for continued progress and the maintenance of a fair, transparent, and corruption-free Israeli society.