Tough Anti-Terror Law Passes Knesset Committee

May 31, 2016

2 min read

The Knesset’s Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee approved a bill on Monday designed to provide Israel with improved and updated tools and tactics for fighting terrorism.

“No other country has such an advanced law for battling terror,” said a representative of the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet), who participated in the discussions with the committee.

Committee Chairman Nissan Slomiansky echoed the remarks made by Shin Bet officials.

“The uniqueness of the law is that it draws knowledge and experience from the field,” said Slomiansky. “Representatives from around the world who are facing terrorism today have approached us to learn how to balance terrorism with the prevention of human rights violations.”

The purpose of the proposed comprehensive law that was originally submitted for discussion and consideration approximately a decade ago, as described in its preamble, is to “set legal guidelines in criminal law and administrative law, including by means of special measures aimed at fighting terrorism in general and to help prevent the establishment and activity of terrorist organizations in particular.”

“We provided the security forces with a strong law capable of fighting terrorism,” added Slomianski.

The committee’s bill lists a number of measures that the government can take in preventing terrorist activity, such as travel restrictions, asset forfeitures, and confiscation of property. The law also lists a number of procedural changes designed to help security forces combat terrorism.

The law also recognizes new criminal offenses related to terrorism, such as a direct call to commit an act of terror. The current law implicates a suspect only if there is a“substantial possibility” that the call would lead to an act of terrorism.

The law was passed in the committee by a vote of 10-2. Arab-Israeli MK Osama Sa’adi (Joint List), one of the two committee members who voted against the bill, voiced concern that that the law would significantly violate civil rights.

”I am against terror and against causing harm to innocent people,” stressed MK Sa’adi. “But not every act of resistance is considered terror.”

MK Esawi Frej from the left-wing Meretz party claimed that the law would allow security forces to “apprehend any Arab and prosecute him as a terror activist.”

Slomianski said that the proposed bill also contains measures that ensure protections of civil rights

“We inserted balances into the law so that it will be restrained and implemented only when necessary to do so,” said Slomianski.

The proposed law will soon be transferred over to the Knesset for a second and third reading before a final vote.

Michael Bachner contributed to this report. 

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