After yesterday's heated debate in the Constitution Committee, the coalition chairman said the law would be put to a vote "so that we can start enforcing all those who do not follow the guidelines"
The coalition's chairman, MK Miki Zohar (Likud), referred today (Thursday) to the law on aggravating fines, and said that he intends to try to pass it in its original version.
MK Miki Zohar at a discussion in the Constitution Committee, yesterday // Photo: Knesset Channel
"We will work to have it painted today so that we can immediately begin enforcing all those who do not follow the guidelines," he wrote on his Twitter account.
"The Prime Minister, the Minister of Health and the Likud continue to work in every way for the public health, both through bringing in millions of vaccines and through enforcement and actions to reduce morbidity."
As you may recall, in blue and white yesterday they threatened not to approve the extension of the quarantine regulations, which will expire at midnight between Sunday and Monday, if the fines law is not approved in the original outline, which would aggravate the punishment for violating certain restrictions.
In addition, the original outline proposes to expand the basket of means available to law enforcement agencies in the act of enforcing restrictions under that law.
The Fines Law will pass today in its original wording.
We will work to have it painted today so that we can immediately start enforcing all those who do not follow the guidelines.
The Prime Minister, the Minister of Health and the Likud continue to work in every way for public health, both through the introduction of millions of vaccines and through enforcement and actions to reduce morbidity.
- Miki Zohar Miki Zohar (@ zoharm7) January 28, 2021
It was also proposed to increase the maximum amounts of administrative fines that can be determined for administrative offenses from NIS 5,000 to NIS 10,000.
Among other things, it was proposed to increase the fines for operating a place open to the public or a business, by opening it to the public in violation of the prohibition to operate it, and for violating restrictions regarding a party, conference, ceremony (including religious ceremony), festival, organized trip, sporting event, entertainment or show craftsmanship.
Zohar's remarks come after the Constitution Committee held a discussion on the issue yesterday, after the ultra-Orthodox parties decided to adopt Zohar's proposal.
Blue and White MKs protested the compromise proposal, according to which only a senior police officer could give a report worth more than NIS 5,000.
MK Eitan Ginzburg said yesterday that "the policeman is coming, sees a violation - and now he has to call a superintendent to give a fine?
There is no advantage to an officer who is elsewhere telling the policeman 'give him 10,000' ".
MK Osama Saadi (joint list) also spoke during the debate: "A NIS 5,000 fine for this business is also a considerable sum, it is not the thing that will solve the corona plague.
The police are strong in "reports and weak in eradicating crime in Arab society. Where are the Israeli police? They give us three times as much from all sectors. How do you want the fine to be raised?"
