Israel's Internal Security Facing Potential Weakening of Oversight

Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir has indicated his intention to demand the Ministry of Defense in the next government, while his party would retain the Ministry of National Security. This suggests a continuation of a system where police officers are promoted based on loyalty to the minister. The article warns that in the coming term, the three bodies currently safeguarding citizens against police misconduct, the Police Internal Investigations Department (Mahash), the Attorney General, and the Supreme Court (Bagatz), are expected to be weakened. This comes amid ongoing issues of police violence, wrongful arrests, and harm to protesters, which the article suggests will likely escalate without sufficient checks.

The article highlights concerns about the future leadership of the police, stating that if the current coalition wins, a minister from the Otzma Yehudit party will appoint the next Police Commissioner. The criterion for promotion of officers is expected to be loyalty to the minister's policies. Ben-Gvir's stance on seeking officers who implement his policies has been noted, even after a Supreme Court ruling in January 2025 that limited his powers under the Police Ordinance. The current Police Commissioner, Dani Levy, appointed in August 2024, has reportedly not met the minister's expectations, leading to Ben-Gvir withholding police appointments until the elections. Levy's three-year term ends in August 2027, with a potential one-year extension dependent on the minister's recommendation.

Oversight mechanisms are facing significant changes. A law passed in June removed Mahash from the State Attorney's Office, with its head to be appointed by the Justice Minister after an advisory committee. The Attorney General has warned this could lead to political control over Mahash. A law passed in July will allow the government, from January 2027, to disregard the Attorney General's opinions in non-criminal matters and to re-evaluate the appointment and dismissal process for Attorneys General. The composition of the committee for selecting judges was also changed in March 2025, requiring coalition consent for Supreme Court appointments, with approximately ten Supreme Court justices expected to be replaced in the next term.

The article presents data indicating that police violence and excessive arrests are already prevalent. Mahash receives over a thousand complaints annually regarding police violence, with a significant increase noted between 2020 and 2022. The Public Defender's office also reported a near tripling of complaints about police violence from detainees between 2021 and 2024. Furthermore, between early 2023 and mid-2024, 1,602 protesters were arrested, with charges filed against only seven. The Supreme Court has also ruled that the minister violated directives regarding protest management.

Concerns are also raised about the situation in the West Bank, where the article suggests a continued lack of action against Jewish terrorism could lead to escalation. The police in the West Bank are responsible for enforcing laws on Israelis, including investigating settler violence against Palestinians. If Ben-Gvir receives the Ministry of Defense, this responsibility would fall under his purview. Data shows a rise in serious incidents of Jewish nationalist crime, with over 90% of cases against Palestinians reportedly closed without indictment. The article also discusses the ongoing high murder rate in the Arab community, exceeding 200 deaths annually since 2023, despite police efforts. The decision to involve the Shin Bet in combating crime in the Arab community is also questioned, with warnings that its intelligence-gathering tools are designed for counter-terrorism, not criminal prosecution, and could lead to a "red line" being crossed.

Finally, the article addresses the expansion of private firearm licenses, noting a near doubling of licensed individuals since before the war. This expansion is criticized for potentially compromising safety checks, with concerns that increased gun ownership could lead to more domestic violence incidents and thefts. The article also points to a shortage of police officers and an uncertain budget for the coming years, which could exacerbate issues such as road accidents, where the number of fatalities has reached a two-decade high.