Regev sent a letter on Monday to Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked recommending a change in the law to eliminate government financing for legal representation for defendants accused of terrorism-related crimes.
The culture and sport minister portrayed the proposed change as “another step” in tightening laws to fight and deter the current wave of terrorism across the country, along with prior measures such as “invalidating citizenship, eliminating financial benefits and house demolitions.”
Some terrorists have the funds or are provided funds by their terrorist groups to hire a private defense lawyer to defend them in court.
But many others, especially those not connected to a specific group, do not have the funds to finance their defense.
In such cases, the state, as in most democratic countries, steps in and provides a public defender lawyer to defend the accused, whether for a minor crime or terrorism.
Regev said she “understands the importance of legal representation in a state of democratic rule, but terrorists should have to finance this with their private funds and not from the funds of the citizens of Israel who they themselves are trying to murder – this paradox must end.”