New Bill to Limit Shin Bet's Authority in Administrative Detention
A new bill initiated by MK Simcha Rotman aims to impose significant limitations on the Shin Bet's authority to place Israeli citizens in administrative detention. Approved by the Ministerial Committee on Legislative Affairs, the bill seeks to enhance human rights protections by establishing stricter procedures for issuing administrative arrest warrants. Under the proposed law, administrative detention would only be permissible if the Minister of Defense has reasonable grounds to believe that the individual is a member of a terrorist organization aiming to harm the state's existence or commit terrorist acts.
Currently, the Shin Bet has broad authority to place individuals in administrative detention for state security and public safety reasons. This process is often secretive, lacks parliamentary scrutiny, and detainees are not informed of the evidence against them. Rothman's bill aims to limit this authority, ensuring it is used solely against terrorist organizations threatening Israel's existence. Rothman emphasized that the proposal does not distinguish between Jewish and Arab citizens and seeks to protect the lives and freedom of all citizens.
Opposition and Concerns Over Security Risks
The bill has faced significant opposition from security officials, including former minister Gadi Eisenkot, who criticized the move as detrimental to Israel's national security. Eisenkot argued that the bill would weaken the Shin Bet's capabilities and endanger the state's security. The Shin Bet also expressed concerns, stating that the bill would severely harm its ability to thwart terrorist activities and lead to increased terrorism and casualties.
A letter from the head of the Shin Bet warned that the proposed law would eliminate essential deterrence tools, making it difficult to prevent attacks. Security officials argued that the bill would endanger all Israeli citizens by limiting the ability to detain individuals with intentions to commit terrorist acts. The Shin Bet highlighted that the bill would affect not only Israeli citizens but also foreigners, East Jerusalem residents, and Palestinians, making it challenging to address terrorism effectively.
- The Shin Bet's concerns are echoed by other security organizations, which argue that the bill would undermine Israel's ability to respond to terrorist threats. Critics also pointed out that the bill could lead to the disclosure of confidential intelligence methods, further compromising security efforts.
- Despite these concerns, Rothman and supporters of the bill argue that it is a necessary step to protect human rights and prevent the misuse of administrative detention. They believe that the bill will ensure that such measures are used only when absolutely necessary and with proper oversight.
