The Police Investigations Department (PID) on Thursday closed four files against police officers in connection to violent clashes in the Galilee village of Maghar, a Druze-Muslim-Christian village in the Galilee, for lack of evidence.

The Justice Ministry's PID decided against trying officers involved in the February riots or those who did not take action to prevent Christian residents of the village from attacking their Druze neighbors.

According to one complaint from a Christian resident of the village, Druze off-duty police officers took part in attacking Christian homes and burning Christian-owned businesses. Maghar residents also claimed that police officers did not do enough to quell the riots. Despite the claims, the PID decided that no action would be taken against any police officers.

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"Four police officers suspected of taking part in the incidents were interrogated, but all cases were closed due to lack of evidence," Public Security Minister Gideon Ezra said in response to a inquiry by MK Roman Bronfman (Democratic Choice-Meretz).

Bronfman criticized the PID and suggested that Justice Minister Tzipi Livni reform the department so that its members would consist of young lawyers rather than those who came out of the police ranks.

"The PID proved once again that it is failing and not serving its purpose in the democratic system," Bronfman said. "One needn't be a professional investigator to understand that the violent incidents in Maghar, during which 6,000 Christian residents fled to adjacent villages, were the result of a serious failure by forces whose job it is to maintain public order. The PID's policy of whitewashing events necessitates structural reforms in the department. It must be comprised of independent civilian investigators who wish to expose the truth and oversee the work of police officers rather than former officers interested in exonerating their friends," Bronfman said.