Netanyahu's cabinet backs bill to jail stone-throwers for up to 20 years
Netanyahu's cabinet backs bill to jail stone-throwers
for up to 20 years
Amendment
will make it possible to convict and punish the violators even if the state
cannot prove they intended to damage cars or injure passengers; bill must still
be brought to Knesset for approval.
 |
Palestinian stone throwers
in East Jerusalem Photo by Emil Salman
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By Gideon Levy | Nov. 2, 2014 | 5:06 AM | 
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By Nir Hasson,
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Oct. 31, 2014 | 1:15 PM
Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet on Sunday approved an amendment to
Israel's penalty code to enable a more severe punishment for those convicted of
throwing stones at vehicles.
The
amendment will allow a prison sentence of up to 20 year to be imposed on those
convicted of throwing or shooting stones or other object.
Netanyahu
told ministers at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem that
Israel would crack down on terrorists of every means: "Israel is operating
aggressively against terrorists, against stone throwers, against hurlers of
firebombs and firecrackers," Netanyahu said. "We will legislate more
aggressive legislation to this regard, in order to return quiet and security to
every part of Jerusalem."
The
amendment is based on the recommendations of a committee headed by Cabinet
Secretary Avichai Mandelblit, which examined how to deal with the security
situation in East Jerusalem.
The
committee found during its deliberations that under the current law, police and
courts are limited in their abilities to punish stone-throwing offenders; Under
existing law, the state must prove intent to cause harm, or base its case on
other laws in order to convict rock throwers.
The
amendment will make it possible to convict and punish the violators even if the
state cannot prove they intended to damage cars or injure passengers. In
addition, the proposed law would for the first time allow the conviction of
those who throw rocks at police cars.
The draft
law states that the crime of throwing rocks at cars will be divided into two
categories of offenses: The basic degree, for which the punishment is 10 years
in prison, will outlaw throwing rocks or other objects at vehicles in motion in
a way that could endanger the safety of a person in the vehicle or someone nearby.
The more serious offense, for which the punishment will be up to 20 years in
prison, would be for those who are convicted of also intending to cause a
person serious bodily harm, by throwing rocks or other objects at vehicles.
The
proposed law would also introduce a new offense: Throwing a rock or other
object at a police vehicle or a police officer with the intention of
interfering in the carrying out of his duty. The punishment in such cases would
be 5 years in prison.
The
cabinet's approval of the bill is just a preliminary step; it must still be
brought to Knesset for vote.
The
Jerusalem district prosecutor’s office over the last few months has instituted
a harsher municipal policy regarding Palestinians suspected of throwing stones
or other disturbances of the peace – requesting remand until the end of
proceedings. The new policy, in place since July, also applies to minors. As a
result, dozens of Palestinian minors have been jailed for a month or two before
their trial starts.
Netanyahu's cabinet backs bill to jail stone-throwers
for up to 20 years
Amendment
will make it possible to convict and punish the violators even if the state
cannot prove they intended to damage cars or injure passengers; bill must still
be brought to Knesset for approval.
|
|
Palestinian stone throwers
in East Jerusalem Photo by Emil Salman
RELATED ARTICLES
By Gideon Levy | Nov. 2, 2014 | 5:06 AM | 1
1
By Nir Hasson | Oct. 31, 2014 | 1:58 PM | 2
2
By Nir Hasson,
Jack Khoury, Yaniv Kubovich andReuters
Oct. 31, 2014 | 1:15 PM
Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet on Sunday approved an amendment to
Israel's penalty code to enable a more severe punishment for those convicted of
throwing stones at vehicles.
The
amendment will allow a prison sentence of up to 20 year to be imposed on those
convicted of throwing or shooting stones or other object.
Netanyahu
told ministers at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem that
Israel would crack down on terrorists of every means: "Israel is operating
aggressively against terrorists, against stone throwers, against hurlers of
firebombs and firecrackers," Netanyahu said. "We will legislate more
aggressive legislation to this regard, in order to return quiet and security to
every part of Jerusalem."
The
amendment is based on the recommendations of a committee headed by Cabinet
Secretary Avichai Mandelblit, which examined how to deal with the security
situation in East Jerusalem.
The
committee found during its deliberations that under the current law, police and
courts are limited in their abilities to punish stone-throwing offenders; Under
existing law, the state must prove intent to cause harm, or base its case on
other laws in order to convict rock throwers.
The
amendment will make it possible to convict and punish the violators even if the
state cannot prove they intended to damage cars or injure passengers. In
addition, the proposed law would for the first time allow the conviction of
those who throw rocks at police cars.
The draft
law states that the crime of throwing rocks at cars will be divided into two
categories of offenses: The basic degree, for which the punishment is 10 years
in prison, will outlaw throwing rocks or other objects at vehicles in motion in
a way that could endanger the safety of a person in the vehicle or someone nearby.
The more serious offense, for which the punishment will be up to 20 years in
prison, would be for those who are convicted of also intending to cause a
person serious bodily harm, by throwing rocks or other objects at vehicles.
The
proposed law would also introduce a new offense: Throwing a rock or other
object at a police vehicle or a police officer with the intention of
interfering in the carrying out of his duty. The punishment in such cases would
be 5 years in prison.
The
cabinet's approval of the bill is just a preliminary step; it must still be
brought to Knesset for vote.
The
Jerusalem district prosecutor’s office over the last few months has instituted
a harsher municipal policy regarding Palestinians suspected of throwing stones
or other disturbances of the peace – requesting remand until the end of
proceedings. The new policy, in place since July, also applies to minors. As a
result, dozens of Palestinian minors have been jailed for a month or two before
their trial starts.
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