Police Commander Slams Defense Attorneys in Podcast, Prompting Bar Association Backlash
Hof District YARAM commander Yoni Hagag faced severe backlash from the Israel Bar Association after launching a scathing attack on criminal defense attorneys during a podcast, accusing them of obstruction and dishonesty.
Head of the Hof District's Central Unit (YARAM), Commander Yoni Hagag, delivered unprecedented and harsh remarks against defense attorneys during a podcast interview with attorney Rotem Tubul.
Addressing criminal defense lawyers, Hagag stated: "You are several levels above bastards. You are liars, you would sell your own mother. Everyone deserves the best representation in the world, but you will obstruct an investigation, lie, cheat, steal, do whatever it takes for your client." Hagag further claimed during the interview that he would "fold 30% to 50% of lawyers into fours, paint them blue, and throw them into the sea."
He also accused the State Attorney's Office of tying his hands in dealing with defense attorneys and journalists. "I have been exposed to defense attorneys who are recorded on their client's phone, giving them a version and sending them to obstruct an investigation," Hagag claimed. He added a warning to new attorneys: "Eventually someone is going to lose their nerve and say, 'this is the line and I don't care about anyone who crosses it,' a journalist, a defense attorney, anyone from the fields that people try not to touch because it's more complex."
Following the remarks, the Israel Bar Association sent an urgent letter to Inspector General of Police Danny Levi, demanding immediate disciplinary action against Hagag and an examination of the legal aspects of his statements.
"He expressed himself in a severe, crude, and violent manner toward the public of criminal defense attorneys and the State Attorney's Office," the Israel Bar Association stated, expressing outrage over Hagag attributing to lawyers "the obstruction of investigations as part of their work."
The letter was spearheaded by Israel Bar Association President Amit Becher and Deputy President Tami Ullman, who argued that this constituted "wild incitement and incitement to bloodshed directed at an entire public that defends the rule of law and human rights." The Bar Association warned that "such statements, coming from a senior police officer, are far more severe at a time when we are seeing a worrying increase in violence against lawyers."
