The Knesset has recently approved legislation that changes the status of Mahash, Israel’s Department for Internal Police Investigations. The new legislation removes the agency from its previous position within Israel’s prosecution system, grants it broader prosecutorial authority, and places it directly under the Ministry of Justice as a separate body

The public debate surrounding the legislation has focused largely on whether the reform will strengthen or weaken Mahash’s independence. Supporters argue that the changes will improve its effectiveness. Critics warn that the new arrangement could expose the agency to greater political influence. Yet one voice has been largely absent from the discussion: that of Palestinian citizens of Israel, who arguably have the greatest stake in the existence of a strong, independent and credible mechanism for holding police accountable.

For most Jewish Israelis, Mahash is simply one component of the law-enforcement system. For Palestinian citizens of Israel, it is supposed to be a main address to which they can turn when state power is abused. It is supposed to provide assurance that police officers, like everyone else, are subject to the rule of law.

The problem is that, in the eyes of many Palestinian citizens, Mahash has never truly fulfilled that role.

The relationship between Palestinian citizens and the police is shaped by two seemingly contradictory realities. On the one hand, many Arab communities have suffered for years from chronic under-policing when it comes to........

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