The Ohr Commission sent letters of warning to 14 persons in connection with the October 2000 Israeli-Arab riots in which 13 Arabs were killed. Letters were sent to former Prime Minister Ehud Barak, former Public Security Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami, former Police Commissioner Yehuda Wilk, former Northern District Police Chief Alik Ron, and other police officers. While 11 Jews received warnings for possible mishandling of the defense against the riots, only three Arabs received warnings for their role in actually instigating the riots, major highway-blockings, bank and post office-burnings, and attempted murder of Jewish motorists merely because they were Jewish. The three are MK Dahamshe, MK Bshara, and Sheikh Raad Salah, an Islamic Movement leader.
Lawyers for the 14 will be able to cross-examine any of the almost 400 witnesses who have testified before the commission, thus that final conclusions are not expected for many months, if not years. The warning letters state that the committee\'s findings may prejudice the future careers of the recipients. A statement issued by Israel Police declares that the policemen who received the warnings \"acted while in danger of their lives in order to prevent the severe and unprecedented riots that endangered the lives of civilians and policemen.\"
Lawyers for the 14 will be able to cross-examine any of the almost 400 witnesses who have testified before the commission, thus that final conclusions are not expected for many months, if not years. The warning letters state that the committee\'s findings may prejudice the future careers of the recipients. A statement issued by Israel Police declares that the policemen who received the warnings \"acted while in danger of their lives in order to prevent the severe and unprecedented riots that endangered the lives of civilians and policemen.\"