On Tuesday, the Knesset approved a law that grants the police the authority to enter homes and other places, allowing them to conduct searches without a court order, under the pretext of combating violence, crime, and the spread of illegal weapons in Arab communities.
To reiterate, Mezan Center for Human Rights (Nazareth) asserts that the Israeli police can fight organized crime if they truly have the will to do so, as they have done in Jewish cities in the past. However, without real political will and decision-making, these legislative amendments may have other hidden objectives and agendas.
Mezan believes that expanding the police’s search powers, such that they are not subject to judicial oversight in certain cases, should be carefully scrutinized. Saying “yes” to this law is conditional upon the seriousness of the police’s commitment to combating crime in Arab society. It also depends on whether the police will implement the law in good faith and whether there will be overreach in the use and interpretation of these newly granted powers.
The proposed amendment to the Criminal Procedure Law (“Arrest and Search”) falls within a broader trend of vague legislative changes that allow the police, in certain cases, to raid homes and seize cameras or other tools used for documentation under the pretext of obtaining evidence to help apprehend criminals. This, along with the allowance for searches without a court order, constitutes a blatant violation of personal privacy and individual freedom. It is a flagrant breach of democratic principles and the Basic Law: Human Dignity and Liberty, and signals a dangerous slide toward the application of a military-style regime.
Based on the above, Mezan believes that police officers will exploit these powers beyond what is permitted, using excessive force. Previous incidents provide ample evidence of how the police often treat Arabs as suspects, particularly in situations involving simple disputes or routine searches of homes. The police have frequently used excessive violence against Arab citizens, especially when dealing with minor confrontations or during home searches.
On the surface, as an Arab society, we are suffering from a widespread problem of violence that claims the lives of many members of our community. We have long called on the police to play a responsible role in combating violence, the spread of weapons, and crime in Arab society. However, questions surrounding this law remain: Will the police be able to quickly identify and apprehend those involved in violent crimes? How will the powers granted to the police be exercised in practice? These are the issues that concern us most as an Arab community, often viewed as suspects rather than citizens.
Mezan Center for Human Rights – Nazareth
Wednesday – 29 March 2023
