Israel plans emergency law to contain Palestinian rallies

The Israeli Ministry for Public Security has prepared a draft plan for putting in place emergency law regulations to deal with possible massive protests in the wake of a declaration of an independent Palestinian state, said Haaretz on Sunday. According to Israeli newspaper, the plan - which would curtail the rights of those detained, or under arrest - has sparked disagreement among members of the Justice Ministry. The document circulated at the Justice Ministry last week after its experts, along with Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein, were asked to to give their opinion of it to the Public Security Ministry. On Saturday, the ministry confirmed that in preparation for possible unrest this month emergency law regulations are being considered in order to give the police forces the necessary means to regain control. It is thought that the regulations anchored in the law governing arrests do not allow police to deal with massive violent disturbances One proposal would allow police to use force against those being detained - and not only against those being arrested, as they are now authorized to do. That change would also harm the right of a person arrested to meet with an attorney without delay. "The plan to pass emergency law regulations is a real example of the potential for seriously harming rights when draconian measures are implemented, " said Dan Yakir, the legal counsel for the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, last night.