Israeli Attorney General Warns Police Investigations Unit Reform Threatens Human Rights and Rule of Law

Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara submitted a response to the Supreme Court on Monday opposing recent amendments to the Police Investigations Department (Mahash) law. She warned that the changes, which politicize the unit by placing its leadership under direct control of the Justice Minister and a politically dominated committee, pose a serious and immediate danger to human rights and the legitimacy of state coercive powers in criminal law enforcement.

Baharav-Miara argued that the reform creates an unprecedented situation where a criminal investigation and prosecution body is subordinated to political authorities, potentially allowing politicians to influence who is investigated and deterring probes into government officials. She called for a temporary injunction to halt the law’s implementation and the appointment of new officials until the petitions against it are resolved. Although the law’s provisions are set to take effect in February 2027, Justice Minister Yariv Levin and his team have already begun actions that have paralyzed the current department and intimidated investigators and prosecutors.

The Attorney General criticized the creation of a new "Coordinator" role with sweeping powers to interfere in investigations, override the Attorney General and State Prosecutor, and delay cases. She described the politicization of criminal law enforcement as a hallmark of authoritarian regimes and warned that the law undermines fundamental principles of the rule of law, equality before the law, and the independence of law enforcement.

Baharav-Miara also highlighted that the ongoing appointment process is dominated by political actors without sufficient safeguards for professional independence. She stressed that implementing the law during an election period risks irreversible damage, including freezing Mahash’s current operations, loss of professional staff, and eroding public trust in sensitive investigations.

Recent reports revealed that the Ministry of Justice’s Director-General Itamar Donenfeld convened meetings instructing officials to prepare for the law’s rollout, signaling the current Mahash unit is becoming irrelevant. Additionally, Mahash is reportedly paralyzed due to the Ministry blocking access to critical forensic technology licenses, halting new investigations and freezing ongoing sensitive cases, including one involving the head of the Lahav 433 unit. Donenfeld declined to comment on these developments.