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Human Rights
Public Security Minister Avi Dichter refuses Supreme Court recommendation to cancel
promotion of Benzi Sau
Arab Association for Human Rights (HRA)
17 August 2006
On June 1, The Committee of the Victims Families of October 2000 presented an appeal to the
Supreme Court against Benzi Sau and Public Security Minster (former head of the Shabak) Avi
Dichter. The appeal called to cancel the promotion of Benzi Sau for the post of Head of Operations
to the Public Security Minister (considered high-ranking in the Public Security Ministry).
Benzi Sau was one of the most prominent high-ranking oficers on the scene during protests of
the Arab minority in the October 2000 events, and particularly so in Umm el-Fahm. Sau was also
one of those responsible for ordering the use of snipers on 2 October 2000, which resulted in the
death of Misleh Abu Jarad and wounded many others. On 1 October, Sau also led the police to
Umm el-Fahm to occupy the home of the Qahawesh family. A lot of shots were ired towards
demonstrators which resulted in the killing of two people - Ahmad Jabareen and Mohammad
Jabareen, and wounding scores of others. For these reasons the Or Commission recommended
that Sau not be given a raise for four years from the date of their reports publication - from
September 2003 till September 2007.
On 26 May 2006, however, Sau was promoted by Avi Dichter to the role of Head of the Ministers
Operational Staff Unit, a major step up from being a high-ranking oficer in the Border Guards
unit. Sau now sets the agenda for the Public Security Minister and prioritises issues relevant to
the Ministry.
The appointment of Sau is illegal and tantamount to a promotion in a manner which runs
contrary to the law and the recommendations of the Or Commission in this regard. On July 27, the
Supreme Court, in its hearing of the case, suggested reviewing the decision to promote Sau.
However, the State Prosecutor told the Supreme Court last week that the Public Security Minister
had refused this suggestion to reconsider the promotion. The reason given was that placing Sau
in this position could not be considered a promotion; therefore it does not contradict the
recommendations of the Or Commission.
This claim by the Public Security Minister, and endorsed by the Attorney General, that Saus
appointment is not a promotion is simply erroneous. Sau, as Head of the Ministers Operational
Staff Unit, now has the authority to override the opinion of even the Police Chief in his
recommendations on the priorities of the police forces work and the best means of achieving
these priorities. Moreover, Sau is able to participate, along with the Minister of Public Security, in
high-level government meetings concerning security, including at cabinet level, at which all
5/11/2014 Public Security Minister Avi Dichter refuses Supreme Court recommendation to cancel promotion of Benzi Sau | The Electronic Intifada
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security matters in Israel are discussed, and not only those relating to the police. The claim that
Saus appointment is not a promotion appears to be a deliberate attempt to sideline the Or
Commissions recommendations and also to toy with words so that those words it their agenda.
Related Links
The Arab Association for Human Rights
BY TOPIC: Palestinians in Israel
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