The Shin Bet security service believes it is within its charter to carry out surveillance operations, such as phone taps, on individuals deemed as "conducting subversive activity against the Jewish identity of the state," even if their actions are not in violation of the law.

In a letter sent on Sunday to the Adalah Arab rights group and written at the behest of Attorney General Menachem Mazuz, Shin Bet head Yuval Diskin outlined the security service's authority to carry out investigations against Israeli citizens.

The letter is a response to an inquiry by the Arab rights group that asked Shin Bet to define its authorities in the wake of the security services recent statement that it would probe political activities aimed at changing the 'Jewish identity' of Israel.

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The Justice Ministry considers the text a "constitutive paper" that defines the authority of Shin Bet and balances democratic principles with the need of the state to defend itself from subversion.

"Shin Bet is an organization that plays a vital role in the everyday life of Israel," Diskin wrote. "It is an organization vested with broad powers and authorities. Exercising them properly and justly is important to Israeli democracy, to the service itself in order the gain public legitimization needed for it to function, and important for its citizenry."

According to Diskin, Shin Bet is entrusted with safeguarding national interests vital to state security, and to promoting "Jewish and democratic" key values.

He added that "subversion" was a very broad concept that needed to be narrowed down.

He emphasized that no law exists that prohibits "expressing opinions that oppose Israel's values as a Jewish and democratic state. Such opinions, so long as they do not entail illegal activity, are part of one's freedom of speech. The right to privacy is also a fundamental value of a democratic value. Infringement of those laws is allowed only for a proper purpose and in moderation."

MKs react to Diskin's letter

MK Collette Avital (Labor): The Shin Bet is not supposed to protect "the Jewish character of Israel"

MK Collette Avital (Labor), a candidate for the presidency of Israel, said on Sunday that "It's ridiculous that the Shin Bet would be used to protect the Jewish character of Israel. They are responsible for state security and no one has made them responsible for preserving Israel's Jewish character.

Head of the Meretz faction in the Knesset, MK Yossi Beilin said on Sunday that the revelations found in Diskin's letter represent "a strategic threat to Israeli democracy. " Beilin added that the Shin Bet's job is to ensure Israel's security and not her character.

MK Dov Hikind (Hadash) called the Shin Bet policy "very severe and dangerous.

MK Michal Eitan (Likud) lauded the Shin Bet's policy saying, "part of the Shin Bet's role is to work against those seeking to undermine the state, and this includes undermining it's Jewish character. A democracy must protect itself from those who seek to change the character of a country through the use of violence and treason."