The Justice Ministry’s Police Investigation Department (PID) said in a statement on Tuesday that it had launched an investigation against Colonel Amit Pollak of the Hadera police station on suspicion of abuse of power, assault and obstruction of justice.
Pollak and other police officers are being investigated on suspicion of unauthorized use of force after they arrested several citizens who placed a tank model on a truck during preparations for a demonstration scheduled to take place the same evening near the prime minister’s house in Caesarea, the PID said in a statement.
Investigators confiscated Pollak’s phone from his apartment after they could not find him at the train station or at home.
Pollak’s lawyers condemned the search and told Israeli media: “It is unthinkable that the PID would enter the political arena, ‘take sides’ and investigate a police officer who has fulfilled his duty as expected and instructed.”
“It is even less conceivable that a search would be carried out at such a late hour, as if he were a member of a criminal organisation and not an outstanding and respected police officer.”
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir responded to the decision by criticizing government investigators and praising Pollak’s conduct.
Ben-Gvir criticizes police investigations
“The PID is doing everything it can to prevent police officers from doing their jobs and behaving professionally,” he told Israeli media. “Chief Supt. Polk is an excellent police officer and I give him and his officers my full support.”
Ben-Gvir then attacked the public prosecutor’s office and described the investigations as a politicization of the authority, referring to investigations against himself.
“The department is acting under the direction of the Attorney General, who also wants to bring charges against me for ‘incitement against the residents of the Gaza Strip,'” he said.
“The politicization of the department under the leadership of the Ombudsman and the Attorney General is very serious. It is time for the Ombudsman to become an independent body, not subordinate to the political duo (Gali) Barahav-Miara and Eisman.”
