A new bill that makes burning the Israeli flag a criminal offense punishable by a 50,000 shekel ($13,000) fine or up to three years in jail passed its preliminary Knesset reading on Wednesday. The bill, introduced as an amendment to Israel's Flag and Emblem Law (1949), increases the penalty for desecrating the flag from the current NIS 300 fine ($78) or up to one year in jail. The bill also gives the courts judicial discretion to take other measures, such as denying an individual convicted of burning the flag certain state-funded benefits, including scholarships and health and social security benefits, for up to six years. Likud MK Nava Boker, who sponsored the bill, said, "I presented this bill following the incitement and riots we have been seeing in Arab towns in Israel. The current reality is unbearable -- protesters are burning Israeli flags and just go on with their lives. The current penalties, which are ridiculous, are barely enforced. It is time to impose a harsher sentence and a hefty fine to end this disgraceful phenomenon." Boker said she believes harsher punitive measures will be able to generate deterrence and curtail incitement. Meretz MK Issawi Frej slammed the bill, saying, "This bill will do nothing to prevent terrorism. I oppose burning the flag, but you're dealing with nonsense." Also on Wednesday, a bill allowing secular workers to refuse to work on their designated day of rest even if their employer demands it passed its preliminary reading. The bill, sponsored by Yesh Atid MK Aliza Lavie and Likud MK Miki Zohar, was supported by Habayit Hayehudi, the Zionist Union, and Yisrael Beytenu MKs. Current labor laws allow employers to ask employees who refuse to work on their prescribed day of rest -- Friday, Saturday, or Sunday -- to submit an affidavit declaring their religious affiliation. The bill argues that this stipulation contradicts freedom of religion, as well as the Employment (Equal Opportunities) Law (1988), which bars employee discrimination on the grounds of their religious beliefs. Both bills will now be deferred to the Knesset's Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, which will prepare them for their first, second and third Knesset readings.
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New bill to set harsher penalties for flag burning
If passed, amendment to Israel's Flag and Emblem Law will make desecrating flag punishable by 50,000 shekel ($13,000) fine or up to three years in jail • Court will also be able to deny state-funded benefits to convicted individuals for up to six years.