‘Recommendations bill driven by ignorance or malice'
Head of police's Investigations Division Brig.-Gen. Kamin says ‘public entitled to know police's position. Anyone wishing to prevent that not overly fond of strong, opinionated police force.'
Head of the Israel Police's Investigations Division Brig.-Gen. Eran Kamin publically spoke out Thursday against the bill barring police from making recommendations at the conclusion of investigations, saying that it appears to be motivated by "ignorance or malice."
"Anyone reading the bill's explanatory remarks cannot avoid the impression it was motivated by either ignorance or malice," Kamin said.
"The explanatory remarks are completely contrary to the world of investigations. An investigator is tasked with one thing, and one thing alone: finding the truth. They are not tasked with indicting or marking targets," the senior policeman said.
Attending a conference organized by the Bureau of Internal Auditors, Brig.-Gen. Kamin said, "It's a very Sisyphean profession. You weave a tapestry of evidence from one thousand and one sources. When it comes down to it, we're in charge of getting to the bottom of the truth, and when we do that we summarize our findings.
"While I'm in the process of obtaining testimony, I'm already formulating some insights as I'm doing so, because I want to trip the person being interrogated exactly where I wish him to trip, or otherwise corroborate his account," Kamin said.
Kamin then went on to comment on the Likud MK who proposed the bill, David Amsalem. "He has a certain experience with the Israel Police. The rationale behind the explanatory remarks, as if the police intends to actually indict suspects, is hogwash. The police holds neither religion nor party affiliation and is doing its job," he said.
"In my opinion, summarizing the investigation is merely done to make the case more accessible to the state attorney's office. Every investigation concludes with 100 boxes of material, at a bare minimum. Try handing in that much material without a roadmap. You can't. Anyone trying to detach the findings from the conclusion will fail," Kamin cautioned.
The police force's chief investigator also elucidated on the manner in which an investigation is conducted. "There are several stops. I announce the opening of an investigation when there's public merit for it. When I conclude, I announce handing over the case file. That strikes a balance between the public's right to know and protecting privacy," he explained.
"The public is entitled to know the police's position on any given matter and anyone wishing to block that isn't overly fond of a strong, opinionated police force. I think the legislator should decide, but it's a decision that should be made with the public. The legislator is supposed to represent the public, and I'm not convinced the public doesn't want to know what the police thinks," Kamin wondered.
This past Wednesday, the Knesset plenum approved the controversial bill in a preliminary reading with a majority of 52 over 42 MKs objecting.
The bill will be transferred to further readings with the consent of Ministry of Public Security Gilad Erdan, who voted in favor, and Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked. MK Rachel Azaria of the coalition objected. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was not present during the vote.
During the debate, MK Amsalem explained why the bill merits passage. "In cases where there is an attorney from the outset there is no need to recommend the case anyway. After all, the attorney general is conducting the investigation. When the police says 'there is plethora of evidence' it is akin to a recommendation," Amsalem said, justifying the bill.
"In my opinion, the police is behaving contrary to the law. I am coming from the civilian angle, I am concerned for the people of Israel. The prime minister is part of the people of Israel, he is not a Hezbollah fighter. He is not Nasrallah, and it is right that he should be afforded the same rights as all civilians," Amsalem continued in his justification.
