Penal Law (Amendment – Assault of Journalists) Bill

What does the bill do?

The proposal adds a definition of "journalist" to the Penal Law and provides that assaulting a journalist while performing their duties will constitute a criminal offense. The arrangement aims to protect male and female journalists while performing their duties, to apply tougher penalties to anyone who assaults a journalist, and to deter acts of violence and harassment against media workers. The definition includes holders of a card from the Government Press Office or from a journalists' association in Israel.