Commissioner of Police Superintendent Kobi Shabtai will appear tomorrow (Wednesday) in an unusual manner in the Knesset's Constitution Committee, and will express on behalf of the police strong opposition to MK Gabi Lansky's (Meretz) bill, which seeks to repeal the insult section of the Penal Code.
A senior police official noted that this was a "shameful proposal that harms police officers and police officers first and foremost."
This is a bill that proposes to repeal section 288 of the Penal Code, which provides: "His sentence is six months' imprisonment."
Former Minister of Internal Security MK Amir Ohana said: "I solemnly pledge that this contempt law will fall.
The dignity of the police and public servants will not be the no man's land.
During this difficult time when the police are dealing with a wave of resignations, the dignity of the police must be protected.
They work in very difficult conditions in complex and well-forced roles.
It is enough that they sacrifice their lives for the safety and security of the citizens of Israel - they are not really required to sacrifice their honor either. "
The explanatory memorandum to the proposal stated, among other things, that "a democratic state cannot afford for this anachronistic clause to survive in its law book. When it comes to freedom of expression, there is great value in criticizing the government of all kinds."
It was further argued that "freedom of expression is not an absolute value. It is an important value, which can be good reasons to limit it with criminal prohibitions when it comes to, for example, rare cases of real danger to state security, public order, or the feelings of minorities and sectors. On the other hand, there is a possibility of an injury that may be caused, which is not serious - freedom of expression should be preferred. "
Will present examples of insulting police officers.
Police Commissioner Yaakov Shabtai, Photo: Oren Ben Hakon
The proposal seeks to establish that "public trust can not be protected by silence or by imposing criminal prohibitions, by prosecuting people for criticizing public employees. In addition, even when the insulting publicity is not intended to offend, "Intention to point out a defect and have it corrected, this is not exempt from criminal liability if the advertising content is objectively insulting."
Finally, it was argued that "it is not possible that the ban on insulting a public employee will protect public employees, including public figures, from offensive and insulting publications, above and beyond the protection afforded by the Prohibition of Defamation Law, 5755-1965 to all citizens."
The bill provokes outrage at the top of the police force.
Senior police officials told Israel Today that "if there is a section in the penal code that is relevant to the organization - it is this section. The police officers absorb most of the insults and insults from the public and in the end politicians want to harm them.
"If this bill passes, it will be considered another nail in the coffin of the deterrence of the Israel Police, which has been eroding in recent years."
A senior police official added: "We see more criminals who allow themselves to curse police officers, insult them and wish them hard wishes."
The commissioner is expected to provide committee members with examples of police insults so that they can prove themselves.
"Offenders are increasingly insulting and do not miss out on police officers who come from minority populations, and harm them on the basis of religion and skin color," police officials say.
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