Attorney General Decision Wastes Millions in Israel Police Spyware Budget
A decision by Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara to block adapted police spyware has left millions of shekels in development wasted. While police warn of operational blindness against crime, the Attorney General blames the Knesset for legislative delays.
Controversial Decision by the Attorney General
Millions of shekels from the Israel Police budget have been wasted following a controversial decision by Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara. An investigation by Channel 14 News raises difficult questions regarding the conduct of the legal advisory team and the security and financial toll paid by the Israeli public.
The issue began in 2022, after the Attorney General ordered a halt to the police use of spyware following the Pegasus storm. In order not to leave the organization without critical prevention capabilities, the police proposed an interim solution: contacting the developing company to scale down the technological tools to a "leaner" and more restricted version. The goal was to create a system that would allow the police to continue operating under the strict limitations and supervision set by the Attorney General.
Reversal of Agreements After Development Completed
Channel 14 News has learned that the move initially received a "green light" from Gali Baharav-Miara. Based on this approval, the Israel Police invested millions of shekels from its budget to redevelop and adapt the systems to the legal requirements. However, the organization was shocked when, after the development was completed and the funds were spent, the Attorney General reneged on the agreements and refused to authorize the use of even the limited, adapted version.
This resulted in a significant waste of public funds. Millions of shekels were invested in development designed to meet the Attorney General's exact demands, yet the equipment remains unused. Police officials claim that the organization is left with major technological tools that cannot be operated, leaving operational units "blind" in the face of criminal organizations.
Internal Backlash and Official Responses
This incident has reignited harsh internal criticism within the police force. Sources within the organization stated:
"The Attorney General is harming police work due to a political agenda. The Police Commissioner refuses to stand up to her, even when it comes at the expense of human lives being lost on the streets. The police lack the tools to prevent murders before they occur because of these legal obstacles."
The Attorney General's Office responded to the report:
"The path to regulating the use of technological tools is through legislation. Indeed, the government's legal advisory team drafted a comprehensive government bill, but it was not promoted by the government. Even a private bill designed to allow the use of these tools, which received the support of the Ministerial Committee for Legislative Affairs, was never brought to the Knesset floor for discussion. There is no basis for the claim that the legal advisory team prevented the police from obtaining the necessary tools. The responsibility for promoting legislative regulation remains with the government and the Knesset."
The Israel Police issued the following statement:
"Attempts to paint a distorted picture of police activity clash with reality. Over the past two years, there has been an approximate 40% decrease in vehicle thefts, alongside drops in business burglaries, robberies, and shooting incidents at weddings in the Arab sector. Furthermore, the prevention rate of attempted murders has risen by dozens of percent, particularly in the Arab sector. These achievements are the result of determined work by thousands of officers. At the same time, we demand the return of the technological tools taken from us and their adaptation to the current reality through legislation."
