Palestinians call out Israel's bill supporting over-policing, surveillance

Ramallah: Israel's new Bill granting new powers to its police force is being condemned by Palestinians. Many called the move as steps towards "over-policing" and "increasing surveillance."

The Israeli cabinet approved the proposal that allows the police to freely search homes without a court warrant under the pretext of curbing the high crime rate.

Israel had decided last month to deploy its intelligence service "Shabak or Shin Bet" in Palestinian towns and villages. The new bill was proposed by Gideon Saar, reported Al Jazeera.

Hassan Jabareen, founder and director of Adalah, the main Palestinian legal defence organisation inside Israel, said that if the bill becomes law, the police will go into the majority of Arab homes without judicial supervision. It will "strip the homes of their sanctity". He added there are shootings and killings in every Arab neighbourhood in town. "It is enough for the police to be suspicious".

Awad Abdelfattah, a political writer and former general secretary of the National Democratic Alliance party, alleged that the new bill creates a "state of tension" for Palestinians because "it will restrict freedom," reported Al Jazeera.

He added that the internal violence in the '48 occupied areas is the colonial violence and colonial policies that created all the social, cultural, and economic conditions to block the hope for Palestinians until they turn against themselves.

Mohammad Taher Jabareen, one of the founders of the United Umm al-Fahm Hirak (movement), said that the crime rate in the town increased with the openings of police stations in 2003.

"The majority of weapons come from Israeli police and army storage units. Police officers were found to take bribes from crime groups," he added.

Abdelfattah alleged that Israel is increasing surveillance and pressure on Palestinians to get them to leave the county voluntarily.