The State Comptroller’s Office reports an increase in the number of complaints filed by citizens with the state’s ombudsman. 10,571 complaints were filed in 2008, representing an 8.5% increase from the previous year.

987 complaints were filed against Bituach Leumi (National Insurance Institute), 584 against Israel Police, 376 against the Finance Ministry, 371 against the Justice Ministry, 333 against courts, 323 against the Interior Ministry, and 53 against the Ministry of Environmental Affairs. 30% of the complaints were deemed justified, with State Comptroller Justice Micha Lindenstrauss stating the number if alarmingly high for a modern country.

Agencies that standout, the recipients of a large percentage of the complaints are; the Transportation Ministry, Postal Authority,  Israel Broadcasting Agency, Beersheva Municipality, Israel Railways and Israel Electric Company.

Lindenstrauss added that he is encouraged by the increase on the one hand, since he feels it shows citizens feel the State Comptroller’s Office is an address to seek a fair attentive response to complaints.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)