A major scandal in Israel Police: Five policemen are being indicted today on charges that they tried to bomb a criminal's car in Nahariya, in return for his attacks on police.
The five policemen - an officer and four detectives - are suspected of placing bombs in the car of Michael Mor in Nahariya, and in the apartment of his nephew. They will not be charged with attempted murder, but rather with placing a bomb, purchasing explosives, and breach of trust. In addition, a civilian is being charged with complicity in the crime, and specifically with providing the explosives.
Suspense had been building ever since last night (Wednesday), when it was first reported that a "major scandal that will rock the police force" was in the works. Police officials held a press conference this morning to announce the details.
MK Ophir Pines (Labor) was one of the first politicians to respond, saying, "This is a black day for the police and the rule of law." Pines, the chairman of the Knesset Interior Committee, plans to convene a committee session on Sunday with the participation of Chief of Police Dudi Cohen and other leading police officials. "For policemen to take the law into their own hands and thus behave like common criminals is a nightmare come true. This is a grave symptom of the sharp crisis that Israel Police is undergoing."
Just this past February, another scandal rocked the police and led to the resignation of then-Chief of Police Moshe Karadi. The case involved a complicated chain of events including suspicions of underworld payoffs to detectives, a policeman turned murderer who himself was murdered, and murders that were only perfunctorily investigated.
The current case was discovered when detectives attempting to unravel a series of crimes in the north, including grenade-attacks and bombings against known criminals and policemen, were led to the five policemen. The five, policemen serving in the northern seaside town of Nahariya, allegedly formed an underground cell for the purpose of doing away with criminals who attacked policemen. The investigation, involving undercover work and cameras in the suspects' cars, took place over the past month, under a gag order forbidding publication. One of the suspects turned state's witness, in exchange for a sentence of only six months' public service.
Mor is known to have headed a gang that threw grenades on more than one occasions at police targets and at the home of the city's mayor. He was recently sentenced to 21 months in prison for possession of weapons.
No Forgiveness, No Atonement
Northern District Police Commander Shimon Koren said today, "There is no forgiveness and no atonement for such actions." The police are trying to fend off possible public sympathy for the policemen, who may be perceived as having acted only against criminals who had managed to evade the law.
The Deputy Head of Machash [The Police Department's Unit for Complaints Against Policemen], Shlomo Lemberger, said, "This is genuine blurring of the norms that are supposed to be the basis of all law enforcement. This is one of the gravest phenomena that Machash has encountered in its 15 years of existence."
Whoever Heard?
"Whoever heard of such a thing," said another policeman, "that the people in charge of enforcing the law would themselves take the law into their own hands and do such deplorable things?"
Similar accusations by policemen were not heard when their colleagues were accused of beating up nationalist-camp demonstrators in police stations during and after the Disengagement, such as in Amona. For other examples, click here and here.