Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance
Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance
Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance No. 33 of 5708-1948*
Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance No. 33 of 5708-1948*
THE PROVISIONAL COUNCIL OF STATE hereby enacts as follows:-
Interpretation.
1. "Terrorist organisation" means a body of persons resorting in its
activities to acts of violence calculated to cause death or injury to a
person or to threats of such acts of violence;
"member of a terrorist organisation" means a person belonging to
it and includes a person participating in its activities, publishing
propaganda in favour of a terrorist organisation or its activities or
aims, or collecting moneys or articles for the benefit of a terrorist
organisation or activities.
Activity in a terrorist organization.
2. A person performing a function in the management or instruction of a
terrorist organisation or participating in the deliberations or the
framing of the decisions of a terrorist organisation or acting as a
member of tribunal of a terrorist organisation or delivering a
propaganda speech a public meeting or over the wireless on behalf of a
terrorist organisation shall be guilty of an offence and shall be
liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding twenty
years.
Membership in a terrorist organization.
3. A person who is a member of a terrorist organisation shall be guilty
of an offence and be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term n
exceeding five years.
Supporting a terrorist organization.
4. A person who -
(a) publishes, in writing or orally, words of praise, sympathy
or encouragement for acts of violence calculated to cause death or
injury to a person or for threats of such acts of violence; or
(b) publishes, in writing or orally, words of praise or sympathy for or
an appeal for aid or support of a terrorist organisation; or
(c) has propaganda material in his possession on behalf of a terrorist organisation; or
(d) gives money or money's worth for the benefit of a terrorist
organisation; or (e) puts a place at the disposal of anyone in order
that that place may serve a terrorist organisation or its members,
regularly or one particular occasion, as a place of action, meeting,
propaganda or storage; or
(f) puts an article at the disposal of anyone in order that that
article may serve a terrorist organisation or a member of a terrorist
organisation in carrying out an act on behalf of the terrorist
organisation,
shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction
to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to a fine not
exceeding one thousand pounds or to both such penalties.
Confiscation of property.
5. (a) Any property of a terrorist organisation, of property. even if
acquired before the publication of this Ordinance in the Official
Gazette, shall be confiscated in favour of the State by order of a
District Court.
(b) Any property liable to confiscation under this section shall be
attached by a decision in writing of the Chief of the General Staff of
the Defence Army of Israel or the Inspector General of the Israel
Police.
(c) Any property being in a place serving a terroririst organization or
its members, regularly or on a particular occasion, as a place of
action, meeting, propaganda or storage, and also any property being in
the possession or under the control of a member of a terrorist
organisation, shall be considered the property of a terrorist
organisation unless the contrary is proved.
Closing of places of action etc. of a terrorist organization.
6. (a) The Chief of the General Staff of the Defence Army of Israel,
the Inspector-General of the Israel Police, a military governor or a
military commander of an area, may decide in writing to close any place
serving a terrorist organisation or its members, regularly or on a
particular occasion, as a place of action, meeting, propaganda or
storage; as soon as a decision as aforesaid has been given, it may be
carried out by any army officer or police inspector.
(b) Any person aggrieved by a decision given under subsection (a) may
appeal against it to a District Court within fifteen days of the day on
which the decision came to his knowledge.
Proof of the existence of a terrorist organisation.
7. In order to prove, in any legal proceeding, that a particular body
of persons is a terrorist organisation, it shall be sufficient to prove
that -
(a) one or more of its members, on behalf or by order of that body of
persons, at any time after the 5th Iyar, 5708 (14th May, 1948),
committed acts of violence calculated to cause death or injury to a
person or made threats of such acts of violence; or
(b) the body of persons, or one or more of its members on its behalf or
by its order, has or have declared that that body of persons is
responsible for acts of violence calculated to cause death or injury to
a person or for threats of such acts of violence, or has or have
declared that that body of persons has been involved in such acts of
violence or threats, provided that the acts of violence or threats were
committed or made after the 5th Iyar, 5708 (14th May, 1948).
Government declaring organisation to be a terrorist organisation.
8. If the Government, by notice in the Official Gazette, declares that
a particular body of persons is a terrorist organisation, the notice
shall serve, in any legal proceeding, as proof that that body of
persons is a terrorist organisation, unless the contrary is proved.
Proof of membership in a terrorist organisation.
9. (a) If it is proved that a person was at any time after the 5th
Iyar, 5708 (14th May, 1948) a member of a particular terrorist
organisation, that person shall be considered a member of that
terrorist organisation unless he proves that he has ceased to be a
member of it.
(b) A person being in a place serving a terrorist organisation or its
members as a place of action, meeting or storage shall be considered A
member of a terrorist organisation unless it is proved that the
circumstances of his being in that place do not justify this
conclusion.
Proof by a publication of a terrorist organisation.
10. In
order to convict an accused under this Ordinance and also for the
purposes of the confiscation of property under this Ordinance, any
matter which appears from its contents to hvae been published, in
writing or orally, by or on behalf of a terrorist organisation, may be
accepted as evidence of the facts presented therein.
Judgment to be prima facie evidence.
11. (a) If it is determined by a final judgment that a particular body
of persons is a terrorist organisation, the judgment shall, in any
other legal proceeding, be considered as prima facie evidence that that
body of persons is a terrorist organisation.
(b) A judgment of a military court given and confirmed under this
Ordinance, and also a judgment of a civil court from which no appeal
lies - either because the law does not allow an appeal or because no
appeal has been lodged within the prescribed time - shall be considered
a final judgment within the meaning of this section.
Competent court, its composition and procedure.
12. (a) Anyone committing an offence under this Ordinance shall be brought for trial before and be judged by a military court.
(b) A military court, when trying a case under this Ordinance, shall be
composed of three members to be appointed by the Chief of the General
Staff of the Defence Army of Israel.
(c) The members of the court shall be members of the Defence Army of
Israel, and its president shall be a person qualified to practise as an
advocate in the State of Israel or another person certified by the
Attorney General of the Government of Israel as having sufficient legal
knowledge.
(d) The procedure of the court shall be in accordance with the Army
Code 5708 or any other law dealing with the procedure of a military
court, insofar as the procedure is not prescribed by this Ordinance.
Arrest.
13. The Criminal Procedure (Arrest and Searches) Ordinance, cap.33,
applies to a person charged with an offence under this Ordinance with
the following modifications:
(a) the power vested by that Ordinance in a magistrate is hereby also vested in a military prosecutor;
(b) the power vested by that Ordinance in a police officer is hereby also vested in a military policeman.
Release on bail.
14. The Release on Bail Ordinance, 1944, applies to a person charged
with an offence under this Ordinance with the following modifications:
(a) the power to release on bail before trial shall vest in a military
prosecutor; (b) the power to release on bail during trial and pending
confirmation of the judgment shall vest in the military court dealing
with the case;
(c) if an application for release is refused by a military prosecutor
or a military court, the accused may submit it for decision to the
Chief of the General Staff of the Defence Army of Israel.
Confirmation of judgment.
15. (a) Every convicting judgment of a military court under this
Ordinance shall be submitted to the Minister of Defence, who may -
(1) confirm the judgment;
(2) confirm the conviction and reduce the punishment;
(3) quash the judgment and acquit the accused;
(4) quash the judgment and remit the case for retrial to a military court of the same or a different composition.
(b) The Minister of Defence shall, before giving his decision, obtain a
statement of opinion from a person qualified to act as president of a
military court under this Ordinance but who did not sit in that case.
Finality of judgment.
16. A judgment of a military court given and judgment. confirmed under
this Ordinance shall be final and no appeal shall lie from it to any
court or tribunal whatsoever.
Execution.
17. A judgment of a military court under this Ordinance shall, in any matter relating
to its execution, have the same effect as a judgment of a civil court.
Reconsideration.
18. The Minister of Defence may at any time reconsider any convicting
judgment of a military court, even if it has been confirmed by him, and
reduce the punishment or replace it by a lighter punishment.
Pardon.
19. The powers of the Minister of Defence under this Ordinance do not derogate from the right of pardon under any other law.
Assistance, attempt, etc.
20. The provisions of the
Criminal Code Ordinance, attempt, etc. 1936, as to principal offenders
(section 23), offences committed in prosecution of a common purpose
(section 24), the mode of execution (section 25), accessories after the
fact (section 26, 27), attempts (section 29, 30, 31), neglect to
prevent offences (section 33) and conspiracy (section 34) apply as if
they were expressly included in this Ordinance.
Criminal responsibility under another law.
21. (a) This Ordinance does not affect the criminal responsibility of a person committing an offence under another law.
(b) If a person is brought before a civil court, then, notwithstanding
as provided in section 12 (a), offences under this Ordinance may be
included in the statement of charge.
(c) A person shall not be punished twice for the same act or omission
and a person shall not be brought for trial, in respect of the same act
or omission, both before a civil court and a military court.
Revocation.
22. The Emergency Regulations (Prevention of Terrorism) 5 708-1948, are
revoked, but their revocation does not affect any declaration or notice
made or given or any other act done thereunder and does not exempt a
person from a punishment to which he has become liable thereunder.
Implementation and regulations.
23. The Minister of Defence is charged with the implementation of this
Ordinance and may make regulations as to any matter relating to its
implementation.
Expiration of Ordinance.
24. This Ordinance shall expire upon publication of a Ordinance.
declaration of the Provisional Council of State, under section 9(d) of
the Law and Administration Ordinance, 5708-1948, to the effect that the
state of emergency has ceased to exist.
Title.
25. This Ordinance may be cited as the Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance, 5708-1948.
19th Elul, 5708
(23rd September, 1948)
DAVID BEN-GURION
Prime Minister
and Minister of Defence
FELIX ROSENBLUETH
Minister of Justice
* Published in the Official Gazette, No. 24 of the 25th Elul, 5708 (29th September, 1948).
Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance (Amendment) Law 5740-1980
Amendment of section 4.
1. In section 4 of the Prevention of Terrorism section 4. Ordinance,
5708-1948* (hereinafter referred to as "the Ordinance"), the following
paragraph shall be added after paragraph (f):
"(g) does any act manifesting identification or sympathy with a
terrorist organisation in a public place or in such manner that persons
in a public place can see or hear such manifestation of identification
or sympathy, either by flying a flag or displaying a symbol or slogan
or by causing an anthem or slogan to be heard, or any other similar
overt act clearly manifesting such identification or sympathy as
aforesaid".
Amendment of section 5.
2. In section 5(b) of the
Ordinance, the words "the Chief of the General Staff of the Israel
Defence Forces or" shall be deleted.
Amendment of section 6.
3. In section 6(a) of the Ordinance, the words "the Chief of the
General Staff of the Israel Defence Forces", "a military governor or a
military commander of an area" and "army officer or" shall be deleted.
Amendment of section 11.
4. In section 11 of the Ordinance, subsection (b) is repealed and the mark "(a)" shall be deleted.
Repeal of sections 12-21.
5. Sections 12 to 21 of the Ordinance are repealed.
Amendment of section 23.
6. In section 23 of the Ordinance, the words "the Minister of Defence"
shall be replaced by the words "the Minister of Justice".
Replacement of section 24.
7. Section 24 of the Ordinance shall be replaced by the following section:
"Application of Ordinance.
24. This Ordinance shall only apply in a period of Ordinance. in which
a state of emergency exists in the State by virtue of a declaration
under section 9 of the Law and Administration Ordinance, 5708-1948.".
MENAHEM BEGIN
Prime Minister
SHMUEL TAMIR
Minister of Justice
YITZHAK NAVON
President of the State
* Passed by the Knesset on the 17th Av, 5740 (30th July, 1980) and published in Sefer Ha-Chukkim No. 980 of the 23rd Av, 5740 (5th August, 1980), p. 187; the Bill and an Explanatory Note were published in Hatza'ot Chok No. 1467 of 5740, p. 296.
I.R. of 5708, Suppl. I, p. 73; LSI vol. I, p. 76.
In the English version, this amendment requires the addition of the word "or" at the end of paragraph (f) (Tr.).
I.R. of 5708, Suppl. I, p. 1; LSI vol. I, p. 7.
Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance (Amendment No. 2) 5746 - 1986
[Unofficial translation]
Amendment of section 4.
1. In section 4 of the Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance, 5708-1948*
(hereinafter referred to as "the Ordinance"), the following paragraphs
shall be added after paragraph (g):
"(h) or, being an Israeli citizen of resident of Israel,
knowingly and without lawful authority, makes contact in Israel or
abroad with a person occupying a position in the directorship, council
or other organ of an organization that has been declared a terrorist
organization by the Government pursuant to section 8, or who acts as a
representative of the said organization,
2. At the end of the section, the words "a fine not exceeding
one thousand pounds" shall be replaced by the words "a fine up to
22,500 NIS (as provided in section 61(a)(3) of the Penal Law, 5737 -
1977)".
3. The following paragraph shall be added at the end of the section:
"However, a person shall not be convicted under paragraph (h) if
it is proved to the court that he made such contact, in Israel or
abroad, on account of a family relationship between himself and the
person with whom he made contact, or that he made the contact abroad -
(1) on a matter concerning the provision of assistance to a family member who is in need;
(2) as a media representative participating in a press conference,
provided that international media representatives participated;
(3) as a participant in an international forum on an
academic-scientific subject, organized by an academic organization, and
provided that he did not make contact with him on an issue of policy."
* Published in Sefer Ha-Chukkim 5746, No. 1191 (13th August,
1986), p. 219; the Bill and an Explanatory Note were published in
Hatza'ot Chok No. 1742 of 5745, p. 248.
Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance (Amendment No. 3) 5753 - 1993
[Unofficial translation]
Amendment of section 4.
1. In section 4 of the Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance, 5708 - 1948:
(1) Paragraph (h) shall be deleted.
(2) At the end of the section, the paragraph commencing "However, a
person shall not be convicted" until "contact with him on an issue of
policy", shall be deleted.
* Published in Sefer Ha-Chukkim 5753, No. 1410 (27th January,
1993), p. 46; the Bill and an Explanatory Note were published in
Hatza'ot Chok No. 2148 of 5753, p. 32.