Since 7 October 2023, Israel Police have intensified the suppression of anti-government protests in a direct extension of their policy prior to the brutal Hamas attack, adopted upon Itamar Ben-Gvir’s inauguration as Minister of National Security, which is characterized by violent measures and persistent use of unreasonable force against demonstrators.
Zulat’s Proposed Legislative Amendments to Protect Safety of Demonstrators:
- We propose to add a clause to the Police Act stating that a legally-approved protest will be dispersed by force proportionate to the circumstances, with the Israel Police being held criminally responsible for the violation of this requirement.
- We propose to add a clause to the Police Act establishing the obligation of a police officer assigned to a demonstration to wear a body camera to document the event. The collected audiovisual documentation will be kept by the Israel Police, will be available to the public, and will be forwarded to the agency investigating complaints against violent police officers.
- We propose to amend the Police Law to require disciplinary prosecution of a police officer who violates open-fire instructions or uses CCWs and force.
- We propose to add a clause to the Police Act compelling the Internal Affairs Department to open a criminal investigation in every case of a police officer causing bodily harm or affecting a person’s health.
- We propose to abolish the cumbersome mechanism contained in the Police Law’s First Amendment, whereby the authority to prosecute a police officer who uses force during the performance of his duty without permission and disproportionately will rest with the Attorney General or a delegated official.
