Ezra: Police won't testify at Amona inquiry
Internal security minister says he will appear before parliamentary inquiry into outpost evacuation instead of senior police officials; adds he won't allow rightists make political gains at police's expense
Knesset members are also expected to question senior police officials on the same occasion. However, Internal Security Minister Gideon Ezra declared Tuesday that "no police officer will appear before the committee, only I will."
"The political rank must not undermine a police officer or soldier under any circumstances," he explained.
Ezra notified MK Yuval Steinitz (Likud), chairman of the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, that Major-General Israel Yitzhak, commander of the Judea and Samaria district, will not be answering his questions at the committee Wednesday.
"I expect the committee's chairman to back the security forces, police officers and soldiers, and not to lead to incitement by people such as (National Union MK) Uri Ariel," Ezra said.
'Decision is a disgrace'
Steinitz, however, criticized the decision, saying that "Minister Ezra is in need of a democracy lesson."
"In any case, the inquiry commission does not plan on summoning the single soldier or police officer, whom Ezra is protecting with total devotion just before the elections, but rather the police commissioner and the district commander, in order to hear from them what were the orders they received from the political echelon, and to hear about the execution and the lessons, if there are any," Steinitz said.
"There is no doubt that the police elite will appear before the committee as Ezra personally promised me only two days ago, and this will be done in the most serious and respected manner, as is customary in civilized democracies," Steinitz added.
MK Ariel said in response that "the decision is a disgrace to the Knesset and contempt toward the citizens who elected its members."
"Kadima members are hypocrites. Suddenly, they don’t have faith in the Knesset and in the decisions of its committees. They apparently have something to hide," he added.
'I represent the police'
Ezra made the decision after consulting the Internal Security Ministry's legal department, as well as the attorney general's office. According to the law, Ezra must now face the commission instead of police officers.
"He should bring a mattress with him because he will have to sleep at the Knesset," a senior member of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee said.
Ezra said he indeed plans on attending the discussion instead of the senior officers.
"I represent the police, so I will arrive instead of them. Not one of the police officers will appear. I shall not let the National Union and the Likud make political gains at the expense of the security forces," the minister told Ynet.
Apart from Steinitz, the special commission will also be chaired by MKs Matan Vilnai (Labor), Uri Ariel (National Union-National Religious Party) and Ilan Shalgi (Secular Faction). They will be the ones who will question the summoned figures (including Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert) and write their conclusions, which will then be brought to the approval of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, and later to the Knesset's approval.
The right-wing initiators of the parliamentary commission hope it will be completed before the March 28 elections. Shin Bet officers are expected to be interrogated next week, behind closed doors.
Ilan Marciano contributed to the report
