BackIn December 2025, the Office of the Ombudsman of Israel hosted a roundtable conference, under the auspices of Matanyahu Englman, State Comptroller and Ombudsman of Israel, focused on the methodologies used in handling public complaints. Attendees included ombudspersons and public complaint managers from government ministries, statutory authorities, and state-owned companies.
Carmit Fenton, Director of Ombudsman Office discussed the Office's role as a professional hub for ombudspersons in public service. She presented a special report on public complaints during a recent crisis situation highlighting the Ombudsman Office's efforts, including a hotline for victims, visits to evacuation centers for complaint collection, and real-time investigations of complaints. She also emphasized the lessons learned, including the need to strengthen the resilience of staff exposed to distressing stories and events.
Professor Barak Medina from the Faculty of Law at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem discussed the role of ombudspersons in strengthening public trust in government, with a focus on public administration, judicial perspectives, and human rights discourse.
The conference continued with roundtable discussions on complaint investigation methodologies. Topics included:
- Decision vs. Suspension of Investigation.
- Neutrality in Investigation
- Resolving Contradictory Testimonies
The event concluded with an emphasis on the value of peer learning and personal engagement with complainants.
Source: The Office of the Ombudsman and State Comptroller of Israel
