Barak, Dichter slam Olmert's attacks on police
Defense minister speaks at Labor Party forum, says public must back courts, police and State Prosecutor's Office 'in face of attempts to damage their authority and freedom of action.' Internal security minister says, 'Prime minister's attacks on the law enforcement system won't stop the police officers and State Prosecutor's Office from performing their holy service'
Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter also defended the law enforcement systems on Friday, saying, "I repulsively reject the prime minister's aggressive attack against the law enforcement system – the police and the State Prosecutor's Office – on the media this morning."
Dichter, who plans to run for Kadima chairman, said that "these attacks will not stop the police officers and State Prosecutor's Office from performing the holy service imposed on them by us, including by the prime minister himself."
Barak may have also been referring to Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann's proposal to split the attorney general post into two due to the built-in conflict of interests in the position's definition.
Friedmann suggested that the attorney general would be in charge of all aspects pertaining to criminal law, with all other legislative aspects left up to the government’s legal counsel.
Barak, who spoke in a closed forum at the Labor Party headquarters in Tel Aviv, said that "over the past few days we have been witnessing an attack on the law enforcement authorities. I would like to warn all of us that the State Prosecutor's Office, the police and the courts are crucial systems in any democracy, and our top responsibility is to maintain their independence and freedom of action."
On the backdrop of Olmert's accusations, Attorney General Menachem Mazuz said Thursday that "the police have met considerable difficulties in setting dates to interrogate the prime minister and in setting the length of the sessions.
In a response submitted to the High Court of Justice in response to a petition demanding Olmert's suspension, Mazuz wrote, “These are difficulties never experienced in the past with other public officials (under investigation), particularly with past prime ministers.
"The prime minister needs to make himself available to the interrogators when asked to do so, in accordance with the investigation and within an appropriate amount of time," the attorney general wrote.
Efrat Weiss contributed to this report
