MK Dov Hanin (Hadash) expressed concern over the effort by State Attorney Yehuda Weinstein to lessen the period police have to build a case against defendants before asking for an indictment to be issued. According to Hanin, the new rules – in which indictments would have to be issued within a maximum of two years – would make it more difficult for defendants to examine the evidence police have against them.

“This is a severe blow to the ability of defendants to defend themselves,” he said. “The fight against crime does not require, or justify, this step. This step is a danger to the continued thriving of Israeli democracy,” he added.