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25th Knesset · outgoing

Procedure Amendment (Examination of Witnesses) Law (Amendment – Giving Testimony Not in the Presence of the Defendant in a Protection Money Offense) Bill

Translated from Hebrew: הצעת חוק לתיקון סדרי הדין (חקירת עדים) (תיקון - מתן עדות שלא בפני הנאשם בעבירת נטילת דמי חסות)

TL;DRA proposal to provide that victims of the offense of taking protection money can testify in court without the defendant present, and to set penalties for those who impose protection through intimidation or extortion.

Translated from Hebrew

What does the bill do?

The bill adds a section to the Procedure Law allowing a court to order that a witness in an offense of taking protection money testify without the defendant present, if there is a danger of harm to the witness or their relatives. In addition, the bill amends the Penal Law and sets a penalty of up to 3 years in prison for someone who imposes protection on a business owner through threats, intimidation or extortion, and a penalty of up to 12 years for someone who receives protection money in these ways, directly or indirectly.

Passed preliminary readingFirst plenum vote: December 4, 2024

The votes on this bill

Passed53 for · 0 against · 1 abstained · 66 did not vote
Source: the Knesset's vote record ↗

Coalition 68 seats

LikudFor 12 · Absent 20
ShasFor 7 · Absent 4
United Torah JudaismFor 5 · Absent 2
Religious ZionismFor 3 · Absent 4
Otzma YehuditFor 1 · Absent 5
NoamAbsent 1

Left the coalition 8 seats

Opposition 44 seats

Yesh AtidFor 4 · Abstained 1 · Absent 19
Yisrael BeytenuFor 2 · Absent 4
Ra'amFor 3 · Absent 2
Hadash–Ta'alFor 4 · Absent 1
LaborFor 2 · Absent 2

Tap an MK for detailsChanged position between readingsOnly MKs who held a seat on the day of the vote are shown

Other bills with a similar name · 1Separate bills (usually different amendments to the same law) - not readings of this bill.