All top justice ministry officials will reportedly take part in Sunday’s cabinet discussion on law enforcement at the protests, as senior coalition leaders are urging police and the legal system to deal more firmly with protesters against the judicial overhaul.
According to a Channel 13 news report on Friday, the expected presence of top legal officials at the meeting was due to concerns that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hardline government would put pressure on the law enforcement system to quell the protests on its behalf.
Justice Ministry officials reportedly attending will include Attorney General Gali Baharao-Miara, State Prosecutor Amit Aiseman and three deputy attorneys general.
It has been said in the report that it is expected that Baharao-Miara will be targeted in the cabinet meeting.
According to the report, senior police officers are also worried, believing that the increased use of force against protesters will fan the flames rather than reduce the intensity of the protests.
Baharao-Miara on Thursday warning Netanyahu has been against any political interference in the police response to mass demonstrations over his hardline government’s efforts to reform the judiciary.
Attorney General Gali Baharao-Miara speaks during a conference at the University of Haifa on December 15, 2022. (Shir Torem/Flash90)
In a letter to Netanyahu, Baharao-Miara said she had received a document from Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs indicating that ministers at Sunday’s cabinet meeting intended to “change the way police force is used at specific protest events”. Goes, has to deal with it.” [the government’s] policies as well as decisions by law enforcement officials regarding criminal proceedings against participants in protests.”
The scheduled discussions followed a meeting on the matter last week between Netanyahu, Justice Minister Yariv Levin and National Security Itamar Ben Gvir, during which he condemned Kudos to Baharao-Miara and other top law enforcement officials for their handling of the ongoing protests.
Baharao-Miara wrote on Thursday that “the law enforcement system is bound to use professionally and independently those officers with which it is endowed by law. This freedom is a central guarantee for the protection of human rights.
He said, “At the time of protest against government policy and its ministers, the government should be extremely careful to avoid actions that could be construed as attempts to illegally influence the professional judgment of law enforcement officers.” “
Police break up a protest by Israelis against the government’s overhaul plan outside the home of Intelligence Minister Gila Gamliel in Tel Aviv, July 6, 2023. (JACK GUEZ / AFP)
Baharao-Miara said that “at the present time, amid protests against the policies of the government and its ministers, it is very problematic to hold such a meeting.” He also said that some participants have a “personal interest” in the police response to the protests.
Citing these views, the attorney general said that he and other law enforcement officials could speak in general terms at the meeting, but insisted that it was “neither possible or appropriate” for them to address “concrete matters”. Baharao-Miara concluded her letter by saying that law enforcement is giving “high priority” to dealing with the protests.
Baharao-Miara’s warning drew sharp reactions from Levine and Ben Gvir, with the former accusing them of “ignoring the ongoing and unprecedented violation of the basic rights of millions of citizens to work safely, to access a hospital, to access the airport.” ” Accused of. , etc.”
Mounted Israeli police officers attempt to disperse anti-government protesters on the Ayalon Highway in Tel Aviv on July 5, 2023. (Oren Ziv/AFP)
The Justice Minister also claimed that she was ignoring the “dangerous selective enforcement” of the police against various types of protests.
In a statement, Levin said, “The right to protest within the limits of the law is sacrosanct and not subject to controversy, but large-scale violations of the law and incitement to violence and disobedience to the law require a clear and unified enforcement policy.” Is.” We will seek answers in this regard in the upcoming cabinet meeting.
Ben Gvir, the head of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, referred to the resignation last night of Tel Aviv police chief Amichai Eshed, who said he was being forced to do so for political reasons and for his refusal to take violent action against protesters.
“Last night we saw a deputy commissioner [Eshed] turned into a politician in uniform. Today we see how the Attorney General has turned into a politician in uniform,” Ben Gwir tweeted.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (left) with Justice Minister Yariv Levin (C) and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir (R) during a discussion and vote in the Knesset on March 1, 2023. (Jonathan Sindel/Flash90)
Protests against the controversial law redesigning Israel’s judiciary have been ongoing for seven months, and Netanyahu’s hardline coalition recently resumed its efforts to push through some of the legislation.
The demonstrations have angered the coalition, with Ben Gvir’s police force repeatedly clashing over its handling of the protesters. He has also argued for a tougher stance towards the protesters and more arrests.
Ben Gwyr’s anger was often directed at Ashed, amid his refusal to use more force against months of anti-overhaul protests.
Amichai Eshed, Tel Aviv district commander of the police, holds a press conference on July 5, 2023 in Tel Aviv. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
Protests have intensified as a controversial bill to reduce judicial oversight arrives in plenum for the first of Knesset floor votes on Monday and cabinet discussions are due to take place.
According to Haaretz, judicial officials were concerned that the bill could be misused to completely block judicial review or discussion of the “reasonableness” of decisions and appointments made by the cabinet, individual ministers and “other elected officials prescribed by law”. Could Interfere in elections.
The report said unnamed senior officials believed future transitional governments between elections would theoretically be able to act to prevent “unfair” decisions and their replacements, with the legal system unable to intervene. Will be
Israel has been rocked by mass demonstrations since early January, when the government first revealed its far-reaching plans to deregulate the judicial system. Protesters have warned that the proposals would undermine Israel’s democratic character, remove a key element of its checks and balances and leave minorities vulnerable. Proponents claim this is a much-needed reform to rein in an overly active court.
