An unprecedented frontal confrontation developed today (Wednesday) between the police and the State Attorney's Office.
In a harsh official statement issued by the police spokeswoman, the prosecutor's office is accused of "abandoning police officers" and of failing to provide legal protection to officers and fighters who are being prosecuted for their operational activities during the handling of protests.
The background to the uproar is two rulings issued today in the Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court in tort claims filed against the police and against police officers and officers, who will not be represented by the Attorney General's Office.
The court ruled that the Israel Police will pay expenses and compensation totaling 75,000 shekels to Amir Haskel and 25,000 shekels to Yael Feldman, after the police did not even file a defense in response to their claim.
The two sued the police for threats and abuse by police officers during their arrest, after a demonstration at Begin Gate in Kirya. Since no defense was filed, the court accepted the plaintiffs' position and ruled against the police.
According to the police, the prosecutor's office refused to represent the officers, leaving them to face the legal system alone. The police claim that the lack of representation directly affected the outcome of the ruling in favor of the officers, without any real ability to appeal.
The spokesperson's statement said: "The role of the prosecutor's office is to protect police officers and represent them in legal proceedings related to their complex operational activities. Unfortunately, we are witnessing a prosecutor's office that withdraws from representing police officers and abandons them to deal with legal proceedings alone, after they acted on behalf of the state and by virtue of their position.".
""The prosecution left the police officers without proper defense in court, without any logical reason, a step that affected the results of the ruling, without the ability to appeal.".
The police also attacked the prosecutor's office's work pace in the criminal sphere: "The lack of legal representation for police officers and the dragging of feet in handling protest cases are not commensurate with the police's challenges in maintaining public order.".
Police Commissioner Danny Levy reacted sharply to the situation and provided full support to his subordinates.
""As the head of the organization, I provide full support to the police officers who operated at the event. Israel Police officers have long faced complex challenges in routine and emergency situations. Our police officers work day and night for citizens at crime scenes, in the fight against crime, and in maintaining public order. The police officers are the strong wall for all of us. They are sent on their missions in the name of the state, and the state has the moral and legal obligation to assist and protect them, so that they can continue their sacred work, without fear or intimidation.".
""This state of affairs requires us as an organization to work towards external representation, independent of any party, by the best lawyers, in order to protect our police officers and fighters.""
The Attorney General's Office responded:
""The Attorney General's Office regularly represents Israel Police officers and works to protect them within the framework of their duties, while maintaining its duty to act in accordance with the law, professional judgment, and proper management of the legal process.".
The Prosecutor's Office categorically rejects the claims of the Israel Police. Contrary to the claims, the Prosecutor's Office did not refuse to represent the Israel Police in the proceedings. The facts are that the defense brief was not submitted due to fundamental differences of opinion regarding its content, as the Prosecutor's Office refused to submit a defense brief that does not faithfully reflect the events from a factual and legal perspective.
Throughout the handling of the case, the prosecutor's office even warned the Israel Police, more than once, about the risk of a verdict being issued in the absence of a defense. At the same time, the prosecutor's office offered various alternatives for ending the proceedings with the plaintiffs, but the police rejected these proposals.".
