Members of controversial government inquiry into police spying submit resignation

A controversial commission of inquiry meant to probe law enforcement’s alleged illicit use of spyware has disbanded after its members resigned, in a letter bemoaning opposition from law enforcement authorities that supposedly hampered their ability to probe the issue.

Addressing Justice Minister Yariv Levin, who formed the government commission in August 2023, members say they are resigning due to “extreme limitations imposed on our work that prevent us from reaching the truth and providing a reliable and exhaustive account to the public.”

From the moment the commission was established, “several parties acted in unison in order to thwart its actions,” the letter reads, as quoted by Ynet.

According to its members, the authorities under investigation refused to provide the commission with necessary information, denied access to key witnesses and avoided discussions with the commission’s members.

The commission has been subject to criticism from legal officials and anti-government groups, who argued the mandate granted to the commission by the government would have allowed it to interfere with open cases, specifically the ongoing criminal investigation into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara objected strongly at the time to the possibility that the commission could review police and State Attorney’s Office activities relating to the probe into Netanyahu, or any criminal cases currently before the courts.

In light of the attorney general’s opposition, the High Court of Justice in June issued a conditional injunction demanding that the government both explain why the commission’s establishment should not be annulled and coordinate with Baharav-Miara to curb its powers.

In their decision, the justices wrote that if the government did not act to ensure the commission didn’t interfere in ongoing investigations, the court would do so itself.