Lapidot (R) and Amsalem
Photo: Amit Shabi, Yoav Dudkevitch
Police spokeswoman slams MK Amsalem
Cmdr. Merav Lapidot rails against MK Dudi Amsalem's proposed bill regarding indictment recommendations by police; Lapidot: bill is 'ignorant at worst, grossly inaccurate at best'; Amsalem: 'This is anarchy.'
Police Spokeswoman Merav Lapidot came out against MK Dudi Amsalem's proposed bill barring police from recommending indictment of public officials, saying the proposal "suffers from ignorance at worst or atrocious inaccuracy at best," noting she was understating the matter.
MK Amsalem, in response, accused Lapidot of instigating "anarchy."
Amsalem's private member's bill will forbid police from recommending indicting a suspect under investigation to the State Attorney's Office, instead only presenting the body of evidence in the case. According to the bill, an investigator who fails to follow protocol will face up to one year in prison.
Police Spokeswoman Merav Lapidot (R) and MK Dudi Amsalem (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky, Yoav Dudkevitch)
Lapidot hinted the bill might have something to do with the investigations currently in progress into the affairs of different public figures.
"I'm sure you realize what's behind Amsalem's proposal. If the esteemed MK's advisors would only look into the matter, they would find something quite interesting: the Israel Police has not recommended indicting for more than four years," she admonished the parliamentarian in a spokespeople's Whatsapp group.
"You're all intelligent. You understand what's behind this proposal. And it won't help. We'll continue administering our duties without fear, apprehension, bias or caving to pressures. We'll do so with honesty, striving for excellence and for justice and democracy," she vowed.
Lapidot's assessment was not entirely accurate. Any police investigation terminates with an announcement mentioning whether sufficient evidence to indict has been collected. The police also mentions which offenses the suspect might be accused of, and it appears this is what MK Amsalem was protesting.
The maligned MK was not mum on these accusations, as mentioned above. "The police spokeswoman's role is to speak for the police, not politically criticize the chairman of the Internal Affairs Committee whose parliamentary role is to oversee the police and submit bills," he said Monday.
"This isn't the first time the esteemed spokeswoman has railed against elected officials bluntly and in an unprecedented matter. This conduct oversteps any norm binding public officials, let alone the speaker for an organization such as the Israel Police. I personally am sick and tired of this anarchistic conduct and intend to approach all relevant parties to ensure her behavior is looked into post-haste," he added.
Lapidot declined further comment.
