State Prosecutor Amit Isman sharply criticized attempts to undermine the independence of Israel’s law-enforcement system during a Thursday opening address at the University of Haifa conference, “Law, Government and Responsibility in a Time of Crisis.” The event brought together senior figures from the judiciary, enforcement agencies and academia. He warned that such moves harm the rule of law and public trust in the justice system.
Isman said government corruption is one of democracy’s main threats, arguing that when public power holders use authority for personal gain, they damage not only public service and trust but the very foundations of integrity. He said the fight against corruption is not political, but a struggle for public morality and the legitimacy of government. In his words, the real test of law-enforcement independence is not in ordinary cases, but in sensitive ones involving powerful people, and “Israel must ensure that no one has immunity from the law.”
He also criticized elected officials’ conduct around criminal proceedings. “In a proper democracy, the personal example set by elected officials is part of the rule of law,” he said, adding that failure to appear for questioning, automatic political backing for suspects, or deliberate disruption of court hearings does not only harm one case, but undermines the legitimacy of the entire enforcement and judicial system.
Isman also addressed the new Police Internal Investigations Department law, warning that it could damage the independence of the body that investigates police officers. He said the appointment mechanism raises concerns about political influence and could create a “chilling effect” on prosecutors and investigators handling sensitive cases. He stressed that the issue is not whether officials act in good faith, but whether the law’s structure allows them to work independently and without pressure. He concluded that “the legal outcome depends only on the evidence and the law, not on public pressure, headlines, articles, tweets, or the identity, power or political affiliation of those involved.”
