Yohanan Danino
Encyclopedia
Rav Nitzav Yohanan Danino is an Israel
i police officer who has served since May 1, 2011 as the 17th chief of the Israel Police
. Among other posts, he has led the Unit of International Crime Investigations and the police's Southern Command. He was also involved in high-profile investigations against top politicians, including Ehud Olmert
, Avraham Hirschson
and Avigdor Lieberman.
to a religious family and studied in the Or Etzion Yeshiva
. His parents, Israel and Lisa, were both school teachers. He currently resides in Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut
and is married with four children.
until 1982 in the Paratroopers Brigade, after which he joined the Israel Police and studied law at Tel Aviv University
. During his studies, he was charged with managing the volunteer base of the Civil Guard. He then became a prosecutor
on behalf of the police and went on to head the investigations office of the Sharon sub-district. In 1998, he became the deputy commander of a new unit that fought car theft, and during his tenure the number of thefts decreased significantly. In 2002 he was appointed to command the Unit of International Crime Investigations, and later helped found Lahav 433
.
From 2006 to 2008, Danino headed the Investigations Department. During his term, he was involved in the investigations of then-Prime Minister Ehud Olmert
, then-president Moshe Katzav and then-finance and justice ministers, Avraham Hirschson
and Haim Ramon
. He also led the investigation against Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman. From December 2008 to May 2011, Danino headed the police's Southern Command. During his tenure, he presided over the demolition of an illegal mosque in Rahat
, which generated great controversy among Israeli Arabs
, but Danino countered that refraining from the demolition would deal a severe blow to the rule of law
in Israel.
Yitzhak Aharonovich
, for fighting for the rights of police officers, among other things. His appointment was opposed by the Movement for Quality Government in Israel
, pending a State Comptroller investigation into Danino's involvement in an affair that involved the assassination of two police agents. The movement petitioned the High Court of Justice
against Danino's appointment, but the petition was rejected.
As his first acts as police commander, Danino split the Northern District of the police into two (Haifa
, and the Galilee
and Golan) and appointed a number of new commanders for the districts.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i police officer who has served since May 1, 2011 as the 17th chief of the Israel Police
Israel Police
The Israel Police is the civilian police force of Israel. As with most other police forces in the world, its duties include crime fighting, traffic control, maintaining public safety, and counter-terrorism...
. Among other posts, he has led the Unit of International Crime Investigations and the police's Southern Command. He was also involved in high-profile investigations against top politicians, including Ehud Olmert
Ehud Olmert
Ehud Olmert is an Israeli politician and lawyer. He served as Prime Minister of Israel from 2006 to 2009, as a Cabinet Minister from 1988 to 1992 and from 2003 to 2006, and as Mayor of Jerusalem from 1993 to 2003....
, Avraham Hirschson
Avraham Hirschson
Avraham Hirchson was an Israeli politician. He served as a member of the Knesset for Likud and Kadima between 1981 and 1984, and again from 1992 until 2009. He also held the posts of Minister of Communications, Minister of Finance and Minister of Tourism...
and Avigdor Lieberman.
Personal life
Danino was born in AshkelonAshkelon
Ashkelon is a coastal city in the South District of Israel on the Mediterranean coast, south of Tel Aviv, and north of the border with the Gaza Strip. The ancient seaport of Ashkelon dates back to the Neolithic Age...
to a religious family and studied in the Or Etzion Yeshiva
Yeshivat Or Etzion
Yeshivat Or Etzion is a Hesder Yeshiva, religious high school, and religious army preparation high school. It is located in Merkaz Shapira, Israel. It was founded in 1978. Its Rosh yeshiva is Rabbi Haim Drukman....
. His parents, Israel and Lisa, were both school teachers. He currently resides in Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut
Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut
Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut is a city in the Center District of Israel located approximately halfway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. It was formed in 2003 by the merger of Modi'in and Maccabim-Re'ut...
and is married with four children.
Military and police career
Danino served in the Israel Defense ForcesIsrael Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
until 1982 in the Paratroopers Brigade, after which he joined the Israel Police and studied law at Tel Aviv University
Tel Aviv University
Tel Aviv University is a public university located in Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv, Israel. With nearly 30,000 students, TAU is Israel's largest university.-History:...
. During his studies, he was charged with managing the volunteer base of the Civil Guard. He then became a prosecutor
Prosecutor
The prosecutor is the chief legal representative of the prosecution in countries with either the common law adversarial system, or the civil law inquisitorial system...
on behalf of the police and went on to head the investigations office of the Sharon sub-district. In 1998, he became the deputy commander of a new unit that fought car theft, and during his tenure the number of thefts decreased significantly. In 2002 he was appointed to command the Unit of International Crime Investigations, and later helped found Lahav 433
Lahav 433
Lahav 433 is a new Israeli crime-fighting umbrella organization within the Israel Police. Known as the "Israeli FBI", the unit is the merger of five law enforcement offices into one. It is tasked with investigating national crimes and corruption....
.
From 2006 to 2008, Danino headed the Investigations Department. During his term, he was involved in the investigations of then-Prime Minister Ehud Olmert
Ehud Olmert
Ehud Olmert is an Israeli politician and lawyer. He served as Prime Minister of Israel from 2006 to 2009, as a Cabinet Minister from 1988 to 1992 and from 2003 to 2006, and as Mayor of Jerusalem from 1993 to 2003....
, then-president Moshe Katzav and then-finance and justice ministers, Avraham Hirschson
Avraham Hirschson
Avraham Hirchson was an Israeli politician. He served as a member of the Knesset for Likud and Kadima between 1981 and 1984, and again from 1992 until 2009. He also held the posts of Minister of Communications, Minister of Finance and Minister of Tourism...
and Haim Ramon
Haim Ramon
Haim Ramon is an Israeli politician who served as a member of the Knesset between 1983 and 2009, and as both Vice Prime Minister and Minister in the Prime Minister's Office with responsibility for state policy.-Biography:...
. He also led the investigation against Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman. From December 2008 to May 2011, Danino headed the police's Southern Command. During his tenure, he presided over the demolition of an illegal mosque in Rahat
Rahat
Rahat is a predominantly Bedouin city in the South District of Israel. According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics , at the end of 2009 the city had a total population of 51,700...
, which generated great controversy among Israeli Arabs
Arab citizens of Israel
Arab citizens of Israel refers to citizens of Israel who are not Jewish, and whose cultural and linguistic heritage or ethnic identity is Arab....
, but Danino countered that refraining from the demolition would deal a severe blow to the rule of law
Rule of law
The rule of law, sometimes called supremacy of law, is a legal maxim that says that governmental decisions should be made by applying known principles or laws with minimal discretion in their application...
in Israel.
Term as Police Chief
Danino replaced Dudi Cohen as chief of the Israel Police on May 1, 2011. He was praised by the Internal Security MinisterMinistry of Public Security (Israel)
The Ministry of Public Security , also Ministry of Internal Security, is a government agency of Israel. It is the statewide law enforcement agency and oversees the Israel Police and the Israel Prison Service.-Minister of Public Security:...
Yitzhak Aharonovich
Yitzhak Aharonovich
-External links:...
, for fighting for the rights of police officers, among other things. His appointment was opposed by the Movement for Quality Government in Israel
Movement for Quality Government in Israel
The Movement for Quality Government in Israel is an Israeli non-profit organization numbering about 17,000 members. Formed as a protest movement on March 1990 during the coalitionary crisis, it is today the leading public petitioner to the Supreme Court of Israel.The organization is an influential...
, pending a State Comptroller investigation into Danino's involvement in an affair that involved the assassination of two police agents. The movement petitioned the High Court of Justice
Supreme Court of Israel
The Supreme Court is at the head of the court system and highest judicial instance in Israel. The Supreme Court sits in Jerusalem.The area of its jurisdiction is all of Israel and the Israeli-occupied territories. A ruling of the Supreme Court is binding upon every court, other than the Supreme...
against Danino's appointment, but the petition was rejected.
As his first acts as police commander, Danino split the Northern District of the police into two (Haifa
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
, and the Galilee
Galilee
Galilee , is a large region in northern Israel which overlaps with much of the administrative North District of the country. Traditionally divided into Upper Galilee , Lower Galilee , and Western Galilee , extending from Dan to the north, at the base of Mount Hermon, along Mount Lebanon to the...
and Golan) and appointed a number of new commanders for the districts.