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Private member's bill · 25th Knesset · published as law 28 December 2022

חוק לתיקון פקודת המשטרה (מס' 37), התשפ"ג-2022Law for the Amendment of the Police Ordinance (No. 37), 2022 · automatic translation · suggest a correction

Status: התקבלה בקריאה שלישית

Topics: Police and internal security* · * from the Knesset's official law classification

Official summary of the law (Knesset)

The Law regulates the subordination of the Israel Police to the authority of the Government, and establishes that the Minister of Public Security is appointed over it on behalf of the Government. It also anchors the authority of the Minister of Public Security to set police policy and the general principles for its activity, and establishes a duty to report on this policy to the Knesset's Interior and Environment Committee once per session. In addition, it is established that in the area of investigations, the Minister may set general policy after hearing the position of the Attorney General and consulting with the Inspector General of the Israel Police and with those in charge of investigations in the police. At the same time, it was clarified that the Minister's policy shall not derogate from the police's duty under any law regarding an investigation or a case, nor shall it derogate from its duties if it becomes aware that an offense has been committed. It was further established that police instructions set by the Inspector General of the Israel Police shall be set in accordance with the Minister's policy, and that all police orders shall be published, unless the Inspector General, with the approval of the Attorney General, determines that a particular order should not be published.

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Hebrew original

החוק מסדיר את כפיפות משטרת ישראל למרות הממשלה, ואת היותו של השר לביטחון פנים ממונה עליה מטעם הממשלה. כן עוגנה סמכותו של השר לביטחון פנים להתוות את מדיניות המשטרה ואת העקרונות הכלליים לפעילותה, ונקבעה חובת דיווח בעניין מדיניות זו לוועדת הפנים והגנת הסביבה של הכנסת אחת לכנס. בנוסף, נקבע כי בתחום החקירות, השר יהיה רשאי לקבוע מדיניות כללית לאחר ששמע את עמדת היועץ המשפטי לממשלה והתייעץ עם המפקח הכללי של משטרת ישראל ועם המופקדים במשטרה על תחום החקירות. בצד זאת, הובהר כי מדיניות השר לא תגרע מחובת המשטרה לפי כל דין בעניין חקירה או תיק, וכן לא תגרע מחובותיה אם נודע לה על ביצוע עבירה. עוד נקבע כי הוראות המשטרה שקובע המפקח הכללי של משטרת ישראל ייקבעו בהתאם למדיניות השר, וכן כי כלל פקודות המשטרה יפורסמו, אלא אם סבר המפקח הכללי באישור היועץ המשפטי לממשלה, כי אין לפרסם פקודה מסוימת.

Sponsors

Itamar Ben Gvir

Readings

What was said in the plenum

The bill seeks to enshrine in law the subordination of the Israel Police to the government and to authorize the Minister of Public Security to set police policy, similar to the relationship between the Minister of Defense and the Chief of Staff; it was advanced as a private bill by Itamar Ben Gvir even before the new government was formed. The debate centered mainly on whether this constitutes a legitimate and necessary regulation of the minister's powers vis-à-vis the police commissioner, or a step that would turn the police into a political body subject to a single minister's control, alongside broad criticism of the hasty pace of legislation and the identity of the bill's sponsor.

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Hebrew original

הצעת החוק מבקשת לעגן בחוק את כפיפות משטרת ישראל לממשלה ולהסמיך את השר לביטחון הפנים להתוות את מדיניות המשטרה, בדומה ליחסי שר הביטחון-רמטכ״ל; היא קודמה כהצעת חוק פרטית של איתמר בן גביר עוד לפני הקמת הממשלה החדשה. הדיון נסב בעיקר סביב השאלה האם מדובר בהסדרה לגיטימית ונחוצה של סמכויות השר למול המפכ״ל, או בצעד שיהפוך את המשטרה לגוף פוליטי הנתון לשליטת שר בודל, תוך ביקורת נרחבת גם על קצב החקיקה החפוז וזהות מגיש החוק.

Arguments for

  • This is an important and historic amendment to an archaic Mandatory Ordinance from 1926 that has not been substantively updated since 1970, and there is still unanimous agreement that it should be changed.
    Itamar Ben Gvir (Otzma Yehudit), Ofir Katz (Likud)
  • Responsibility requires authority: the Minister of Public Security bears public and ministerial responsibility for the police, and therefore it is appropriate that he also have the legal authority to shape its policy, as is customary in other democratic countries.
    Itamar Ben Gvir (Otzma Yehudit), Ofir Katz (Likud)
  • There is an urgent need to improve personal security and governance in the country, including the fight against crime, street terrorism and bullying, and the law is intended to give the minister tools to achieve this.
    Itamar Ben Gvir (Otzma Yehudit)
  • The regulation is based on the conclusions of professional public committees, such as the Tzadok Committee, the Or Committee and the Zamir Committee, which found that the issue requires legislative regulation.
    Ofir Katz (Likud)

Arguments against

Who spoke (60)
MemberFactionReadingsSpeechesIn the final vote
Itamar Ben GvirOtzma Yehudit oppositionPreliminary reading, First reading, Third reading5for
Mickey LevyYesh Atid coalitionFirst reading, Third reading2against
Meir CohenYesh Atid coalitionFirst reading1against
Karine ElharrarYesh Atid coalitionFirst reading, Third reading2against
Meirav CohenYesh Atid coalitionFirst reading1against
Elazar SternYesh Atid coalitionFirst reading, Third reading2against
Boaz ToporovskyYesh Atid coalitionFirst reading, Third reading2against
Merav Ben AriYesh Atid coalitionFirst reading, Third reading2against
Ram Ben BarakYesh Atid coalitionFirst reading, Third reading2against
Orna BarbivayYesh Atid coalitionFirst reading1against
Michal Shir SegmanYesh Atid coalitionFirst reading, Third reading2against
Idan RollYesh Atid coalitionFirst reading, Third reading2against
Yorai Lahav HertzanuYesh Atid coalitionFirst reading, Third reading2against
Vladimir BeliakYesh Atid coalitionFirst reading, Third reading2against
Ron KatzYesh Atid coalitionFirst reading, Third reading2against
Matti Sarfatti HarcaviYesh Atid coalitionFirst reading, Third reading2against
Tatiana MazarskyYesh Atid coalitionFirst reading, Third reading2against
Yasmin FridmanYesh Atid coalitionFirst reading, Third reading2against
Debbie BitonYesh Atid coalitionFirst reading, Third reading2against
Moshe TurpazYesh Atid coalitionFirst reading, Third reading2against
Simon DavidsonYesh Atid coalitionFirst reading, Third reading2against
Naor ShiriYesh Atid coalitionFirst reading, Third reading2against
Naama LazimiLabor coalitionFirst reading, Third reading2against
Gilad KarivLabor coalitionFirst reading, Third reading2against
Yoel RazvozovYesh Atid coalitionFirst reading, Third reading2against
Efrat Rayten MaromLabor coalitionFirst reading1against
Mansour AbbasRa'am oppositionFirst reading, Third reading2against
Iman Khatib YassinRa'am oppositionFirst reading, Third reading2against
Yasir HujeiratRa'am oppositionFirst reading, Third reading2against
Evgeny SovaYisrael Beytenu coalitionFirst reading, Third reading2against
Oded ForerYisrael Beytenu coalitionFirst reading1against
Sharon NirYisrael Beytenu coalitionFirst reading, Third reading2against
Gideon Sa'arNational Unity coalitionFirst reading1against
Gadi EisenkotNational Unity coalitionFirst reading, Third reading2against
Yulia MalinovskyYisrael Beytenu coalitionFirst reading, Third reading3against
Pnina TamenoNational Unity coalitionFirst reading1against
Yifat Shasha BitonNational Unity coalitionFirst reading1against
Chili TropperNational Unity coalitionFirst reading1against
Alon SchusterNational Unity coalitionFirst reading1against
Matan KahanaNational Unity coalitionFirst reading, Third reading2against
Orit Farkash HacohenNational Unity coalitionFirst reading, Third reading2against
Hamad AmarYisrael Beytenu coalitionFirst reading1against
Sharren Miriam HaskelNational Unity coalitionFirst reading1against
Aida Touma SlimanHadash–Ta'al oppositionFirst reading, Third reading2against
Michael Mordechai BitonNational Unity coalitionFirst reading1against
Ayman OdehHadash–Ta'al oppositionFirst reading, Third reading2against
Ofer CassifHadash–Ta'al oppositionFirst reading, Third reading2against
Avi MaozNoam oppositionFirst reading1for
Merav MichaeliLabor coalitionFirst reading1against
Moshe GafniUnited Torah Judaism oppositionFirst reading1for
Benjamin GantzNational Unity coalitionFirst reading1against
Yoav SegalovitzYesh Atid coalitionFirst reading, Third reading3against
Omer Barlev—Preliminary reading, First reading, Third reading3no record
Ofir KatzLikud oppositionThird reading2for
Meirav CohenYesh Atid coalitionThird reading1against
Youssef AtaunaHadash–Ta'al oppositionThird reading1against
Waleed AlhwashlaRa'am oppositionThird reading1against
Yoav SegalovitzYesh Atid coalitionThird reading1against
Idan RollYesh Atid coalitionThird reading1against
Ahmad TibiHadash–Ta'al oppositionThird reading1against

An automatic summary of the plenum transcripts: the debate on the bill at every reading it was voted on. Arguments are given as the speakers made them; this is not an assessment. The list of speakers comes from the transcript, without a model. A very long debate: every speech was shortened to the same length before summarising. Transcripts of the sittings: 1, 2, 3

Reservations to the second reading

899 reservations were filed: proposed changes to the text the committee brought to the second and third reading.

The reservations mainly seek to cancel, weaken or limit the powers of the Minister of National Security over the Israel Police, to preserve the police's professional independence and its subordination to the law alone, and to prevent political interference in police investigations and policy; alongside this, many reservations of a satirical and critical nature appear, expressing principled opposition to the bill as harmful to democracy.

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Hebrew original

ההסתייגויות מבקשות בעיקרן לבטל, להחליש או להגביל את סמכויות השר לביטחון לאומי על משטרת ישראל, לשמר את עצמאותה המקצועית של המשטרה וכפיפותה לחוק בלבד, ולמנוע התערבות פוליטית בחקירות ובמדיניות המשטרה; לצד זאת מופיעות הסתייגויות רבות בעלות אופי סאטירי וביקורתי המבטאות התנגדות עקרונית להצעת החוק כפוגעת בדמוקרטיה.

By faction

A joint reservation counts for every faction whose members filed it. 2 proposers were not matched to a member: listed under the groups, not counted by faction.

Who proposed what
  • יש עתיד · 565
    The Yesh Atid group seeks to delete or rewrite the purpose clauses and provisions of the bill so that the minister will not dictate policy to the police, which will instead be subject only to the law, alongside many satirical reservations criticizing the bill as harming democracy and police independence.
    Sections: לפני סעיף 1, לסעיף 1, לסעיף 2, לסעיף 3, לאחרי סעיף 3
    Mickey Levy, Merav Ben Ari, Ram Ben Barak, Yoav Segalovitz, Boaz Toporovsky, Michal Shir Segman, Yorai Lahav Hertzanu, Vladimir Beliak, Ron Katz, Matti Sarfatti Harcavi, Tatiana Mazarsky, Yasmin Fridman, דבורה ביטון, Moshe Turpaz, Simon Davidson, Naor Shiri
  • המחנה הממלכתי · 215
    The National Camp group seeks to limit the minister's powers over the police, to establish restrictions when a criminal investigation is underway against government members, and to ensure that the police continue to operate according to law and without political dependence.
    Sections: לסעיף 1, לסעיף 2, לסעיף 3
    Gadi Eisenkot, Michael Mordechai Biton, Matan Kahana, Sharren Miriam Haskel
  • העבודה · 55
    The Labor group seeks to weaken or delete the minister's powers over the police, to emphasize the police's independence and its subordination to the law, and proposes many satirical reservations criticizing the bill's objectives.
    Sections: לפני סעיף 1, לסעיף 1, לסעיף 2, לסעיף 3, לאחרי סעיף 3
    Naama Lazimi, Gilad Kariv, Efrat Rayten Marom
  • חד״ש תע״ל · 45
    The Hadash-Ta'al group seeks to ensure that the police will be subject to the law and not to the minister, that all policy will be approved by the Attorney General, and makes the law's commencement conditional on various political and social conditions.
    Sections: לסעיף 1, לסעיף 2, לסעיף 3, לאחרי סעיף 3
    Ayman Odeh, Ahmad Tibi, Aida Touma Sliman, Ofer Cassif, Youssef Atauna
  • ישראל ביתנו · 22
    The Yisrael Beiteinu group seeks to preserve the professional independence of the police and to prevent the minister from having authority to intervene in investigations and investigative priorities.
    Sections: לסעיף 1, לסעיף 2, לסעיף 3, לאחרי סעיף 3
    Evgeny Sova, Sharon Nir, Yulia Malinovsky
  • גדי אייזנקוט · 4
    Member of Knesset Gadi Eisenkot seeks to establish a term limit for the Inspector General and to clarify that the police operate subject to the law.
    Sections: לפני סעיף 1, לסעיף 1, לאחרי סעיף 3

Asked to speak: Avigdor Liberman (Yisrael Beytenu), Oded Forer (Yisrael Beytenu), Hamad Amar (Yisrael Beytenu), Benjamin Gantz (National Unity), Gideon Sa'ar (National Unity), Pnina Tameno (National Unity), Yifat Shasha Biton (National Unity), Chili Tropper (National Unity), Zeev Elkin (National Unity), Orit Farkash Hacohen (National Unity), Alon Schuster (National Unity), Merav Michaeli (Labor), Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid), Orna Barbivay (Yesh Atid), Meir Cohen (Yesh Atid), Karine Elharrar (Yesh Atid), Meirav Cohen (Yesh Atid), Yoel Razvozov (Yesh Atid), Elazar Stern (Yesh Atid), Idan Roll (Yesh Atid), Yitshak Goldknop (United Torah Judaism), Moshe Gafni (United Torah Judaism), Meir Porush (United Torah Judaism), Uri Maklev (United Torah Judaism), Yaakov Tesler (United Torah Judaism), Yaakov Asher (United Torah Judaism), Israel Eichler (United Torah Judaism), Aryeh Machluf Deri (Shas), Yakov Margi (Shas), Yoav Ben Tzur (Shas), Michael Malkieli (Shas), Haim Biton (Shas), Moshe Arbel (Shas), Yinon Azoulay (Shas), Moshe Abutbul (Shas), Uriel Busso (Shas), Yosef Taieb (Shas), Avraham Bezalel (Shas), Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud), Yariv Levin (Likud), Eli Cohen (Likud), Yoav Gallant (Likud), David Amsalem (Likud), Amir Ohana (Likud), Yoav Kisch (Likud), Nir Barkat (Likud), Miri Miriam Regev (Likud), Makhluf Miki Zohar (Likud), Avi Dicter (Likud), Israel Katz (Likud), Shlomo Karhi (Likud), Amichai Chikli (Likud), Danny Danon (Likud), Idit Silman (Likud), David Bitan (Likud), Yuli Yoel Edelstein (Likud), Eliyahu Revivo (Likud), Galit Distel Atbaryan (Likud), Nissim Vaturi (Likud), Shalom Danino (Likud), Haim Katz (Likud), Ofir Akunis (Likud), Tally Gotliv (Likud), Hanoch Dov Milwidsky (Likud), Boaz Bismuth (Likud), Moshe Saada (Likud), Eli Dallal (Likud), Gila Gamliel (Likud), Ofir Katz (Likud), May Golan (Likud)

Proposers and reservation numbers are extracted automatically from the committee version, and the count is checked against the numbers printed in it. The descriptions are an automatic summary. Committee version for the second and third reading (PDF)

Reservations, sections and other votes (92)

In order. Votes on reservations and individual sections are shown separately from the vote on the bill as a whole.

Source: bill page in the Knesset legislation database ↗

Law for the Amendment of the Police Ordinance (No. 37), 2022 · How the Knesset Votes