Knesset passes law to gag police in corruption probes
Israeli parliament approves law to stop authorities revealing whether there’s sufficient evidence to request an indictment for investigations into senior figures
Israel’s Knesset passed legislation that would prevent police from publicly stating at the end of an investigation of high-profile cases whether there is enough evidence to request an indictment.
The controversial legislation, called the Police Recommendations Law, passed early Thursday morning after a more than two-day filibuster, by a vote of 59 to 54.
The legislation was amended so that it will not apply to two current corruption investigations against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after complaints that it was designed to protect him.
During a meeting earlier this month with Likud Party supporters, Netanyahu downplayed the likelihood of a police recommendation to indict in at least one of the investigations against him.
“[T]here will be recommendations, so what? Here’s a fact you probably don’t know: Over 60 percent of police recommendations are thrown out and never result in indictments,” Netanyahu said.
The opposition Yesh Atid Party and the Movement for the Quality of Government in Israel on Thursday morning filed petitions with Israel’s Supreme Court, asking the court to find the legislation counter to Israeli law.
Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit came out against the legislation, but did not say that it is in violation of the Basic Law.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
