The Ministerial Committee for Legislation on Wednesday backed a bill that would remove the police internal affairs unit from the aegis of state prosecutors and subordinate the investigative body to the justice minister, formally throwing the government’s weight behind the controversial legislation.

A brief statement from Justice Minister Yariv Levin’s office said ministers approved advancing the bill to a first reading in the Knesset, the first of three plenum votes it must pass to become law.

The bill calls for electing the head of the Department of Internal Police Investigations — responsible for conducting criminal probes into police officers — via a five-member committee, with the justice minister having control over the appointment of three members and input on a fourth.

The department director would serve for a six-year term, but could be fired by the committee.

The head of DIPI would be seen as a prosecutor and have the powers of the attorney general and the state attorney, including the power to file........

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