The Cabinet Committee for Legislation approved on Tuesday a proposal to require police officers to wear ID tags at demonstrations.
The proposal had been made by MK Uri Ariel (National Union Party), who has long complained about undue police violence at protests and rallies. "This will strengthen the freedom to demonstrate and Israeli democracy in general," Ariel said on Tuesday. "Recent events – especially the violent eviction at Gilad Farm – prove that police procedures against demonstrators, no matter what the issue, need to be refined."
The proposal must pass three readings in the Knesset, as well as a committee vote, before it is enacted into law. No word yet on when this process will begin.
"This bill will enable the tracking of the disciplinary measures taken against policemen who hide behind their uniforms to use disproportionate violence against demonstrators," Ariel explained.
MKs Dov Henin (Hadash) and Nitzan Horovitz (Meretz) also sponsored the bill, which requires only "identification" and not specific names on the tags. An alternative has been proposed to neutralize the concern that name tags might expose the officers to undue harassment. Each officer would be assigned a specific ID number, enabling quick identification in case of need.
On Feb. 28, Border Guard police officers shot plastic bullets with pneumatic guns for the first time at Jewish residents of Havat Gilad, near Kedumim in the Shomron (Samaria), during the demolition of several buildings – including the home of a soldier on active combat duty. Twelve residents were injured at the hands of the police, who were not wearing ID tags. Defense Minister Ehud Barak was blamed for the orders for the more violent police actions.
Today (Wednesday), the issue of police violence will be discussed at a Knesset Internal Affairs and Environment Committee session. Police Chief David Cohen will address the committee MKs.