The Movement for Quality Government today submitted an urgent appeal to the Minister of National Security, the Police Commissioner, the Deputy Commissioner, the Head of the Investigations and Intelligence Division, and the Attorney General, demanding an immediate freeze of the “Incitement Unit’s” activities and the return of all relevant authorities to the Investigations and Intelligence Division.
The appeal follows troubling reports from recent days, including WhatsApp messages sent by the head of the unit, Superintendent Udi Ronen, to police officers, in which he asked them to provide “names and targets” for monitoring on social media, reportedly including suspected names of protesters and political activists.
According to the Movement, the content of these messages raises real concern that the monitoring may include legitimate political expression. Under such circumstances, there is a serious risk that investigative and enforcement powers could be used for improper purposes, in a way that undermines freedom of expression.
The Movement further emphasizes that the entire organizational change was carried out, according to reports and a response received from the Attorney General’s Office, without an orderly staff process, without sufficient professional justification, and without forming the position of the relevant professional bodies. This stands in contrast to the guidance of the Deputy Attorneys General, who explicitly warned that such a change requires a structured factual and legal foundation and should not be implemented before a thorough review is completed.
The Movement therefore requests that, until the legal basis of the move is examined and the Attorney General’s position is formulated, the unit’s activities be halted immediately and all authorities returned to the Investigations and Intelligence Division, in order to prevent external or political interference in freedom of expression and law enforcement.
Attorney Dr. Eliad Shraga, Chairman of the Movement for Quality Government:
“The establishment and operation of an investigative body dealing with expression-related offenses outside the Investigations Division, without proper staff work and professional grounding, raises inherent concerns. When this is combined with requests to collect ‘names and targets,’ it creates a real risk of improper use of enforcement powers against citizens, including in a political context. The Israel Police must not serve as a tool in the hands of the political echelon. This move must be halted immediately pending a full and thorough review by the relevant professional authorities.”
