Knesset ‘yes’ to muzzle police in highprofile cases

Israel’s parliament yesterday ratified a law barring police investigators from going public with their findings, in what the opposition sees as a bid to soften corruption investigations against prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The so-called recommendations bill, approved by a vote of 59-54, prevents police from announcing if they have found enough evidence for an indictment before prosecutors decide whether or not to press such charges.

Mr Netanyahu is a suspect in two cases. In one, he is alleged to have meddled in the media industry. The other concerns gifts he received from businessmen. He denies any wrongdoing.

Opposition MPs said the bill, tabled by Mr Netanyahu’s Likud party, was designed to dampen anger over the investigations, which have fuelled demonstrations in Tel Aviv and calls for the premier’s resignation.

Mr Netanyahu defended the bill as “intended to prevent publication of police recommendations which would leave a cloud over innocent people, something that happens every day”.

In 60 per cent of cases where police recommend criminal charges, prosecutors decided not to indict, Mr Netanyahu said.

The prime minister also called for the bill to be amended so it did not apply to investigations against him.

The final draft stipulated that the law would not apply to investigations that predate its ratification.

“This law came about only because of the investigations against Netanyahu,” said Avi Gabbay, head of the centreleft Zionist Union party.

Israeli media reported that police next month could go public with recommendations to indict Mr Netanyahu, and a December 23 poll found that up to 63 per cent of the public would want him to resign over such recommendations.