Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein has decided to adopt the legal opinion drafted by Deputy Attorney General for economics and fiscal affairs Avi Licht and Supervisor for High Court of Justice Petitions at the State Prosecutor's Office Anar Helman, according to which Bank Leumi (TASE: LUMI) CEO Galia Maor should be disqualified as a candidate for the post of chairman of the bank.

Weinstein held a discussion of the matter this week, at which he decided to adopt the legal opinion, following which Licht conveyed to Judge Shulamit Wallenstein, who heads the public appointments committee, the Attorney General's position that Maor cannot be included on the list of candidates for directorships at Bank Leumi. Licht requested that the committee should review its position.

The Ministry of Justice stressed that this stance implied no derogation of Maor's qualifications, and that it was sure that the committee acted in good faith in what it saw as Bank Leumi's interests.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on February 10, 2010