Israeli MPs pass contentious stop and frisk regulation

Israeli lawmakers have approved a controversial legislation, empowering police to stop and frisk suspects without probable cause amid criticism that the law will increase discrimination against minorities.

On Tuesday, the Knesset passed the bill in its second reading with 39 votes in favor, compared to 31 against.

Previously, Israeli police could only search people suspected of carrying a weapon.

The new measure, however, allows officers to search anyone in areas declared by district police commanders to be possible settings for "hostile sabotage activity." They also have permission to search people they suspect might commit violent crime.

Israel’s Minister of Public Security Gilad Erdan claimed that the law is "an important enhancement of the police's ability” to counter terrorism and violence.

On the contrary, Israeli Arab lawmaker Jamal Zahalka criticized the regulation, saying it is “clear the main people affected will be Arabs and people who look like Arabs."

Michal Rozin, another Israeli MP, accused the Tel Aviv regime of “ignoring the daily distress of weakened groups who experience harsh discrimination in Israel.”

Lawmaker Dov Khenin further noted that the new measure will “augment the harm to individual rights, and the mistrust between the police and many populations.”

In October last year, the Israeli Security Cabinet authorized police to close or surround centers of friction and incitement in al-Quds (Jerusalem).

Tensions have been running high across the occupied Palestinian lands in recent months over Tel Aviv’s imposition of restrictions on Palestinian worshipers’ entry into the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East al-Quds in August last year.

The mosque is the third holiest site in Islam after Masjid al-Haram in Mecca and Masjid al-Nabawi in Medina.

The tensions have also been escalated by the repeated desecration of the al-Aqsa Mosque compound by extremist Israeli settlers, who are usually accompanied by Israeli military forces.

At least 168 Palestinians, including children and women, have been killed by Israeli forces since the beginning of last October.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk