Justice Minister Avi Nissenkorn (Blue and White) on Monday morning responded to claims that the "Coronavirus Law" published by his ministry will harm citizens' rights.
Promising to minimize harm to individuals' rights, Nissenkorn tweeted, "Legislation on the issue of coronavirus is crucial, but protection of individuals' rights will continue to be our guidebook even during times of emergency."
"Together with the Justice Ministry staff and my partners in the government, I am working to ensure that the State's authorities during the time of crisis will be limited in time and subject to parliamentary criticism. The right to protest will not be banned. The Knesset and courts will continue their work."
Responding to claims that the law will allow police to randomly enter any home in the country, unlike the situation today, Nissenkorn said: "The authorities will be given the tools to enforce the guidelines, but police officers will not break into residents' homes randomly."
"In the coming days we will continue our concentrated efforts to ensure that the legislation will be effective but proportionate."
The law, reported by Channel 13 on Sunday, would allow police officers to enter homes without a court order, and use force to enforce the coronavirus guidelines, including within private homes. It would also allow the government to decide what constitutes a crime, without the Knesset's approval, and stipulates that the minister in charge of the law would be the Prime Minister.