After eight people were murdered in the Arab community over the weekend, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir urged police to issue administrative orders against criminal suspects, making use of a controversial law that critics claim sidesteps due process rights.

“I fought to legislate that law… and you [police] aren’t doing anything. The situation is intolerable,” he scolded a group of senior officers on Monday, according to Channel 13 news.

Ben Gvir was referring to a law passed in December allowing police to impose broad restrictions on suspects’ freedom of movement and expression on the basis of secret evidence.

Rights groups claim that the law infringes on due process rights and creates a separate method of enforcement for Israel’s Arab citizens.

Ben Gvir’s meeting with law enforcement brass was convened by Israel Police Commissioner Daniel Levy, who also reprimanded the officers: “You were appointed to ensure public safety. Where were all of the forces that were supposed to be on the ground?”

Levy complained that Border Police officers were not present in central Israel over the weekend.

The commissioner reportedly had requested that officers in the controversial National Guard force be stationed in the central city........

© The Times of Israel