The Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, chaired by MK Simcha Rothman (Religious Zionism), convened on Tuesday and voted to approve for first reading the Prohibition on Denial of the October 7 Massacre Bill, 2023, sponsored by MK Oded Forer (Yisrael Beitenu) and a group of MKs.
It is proposed to establish an offence [bearing a sentence] of five years for a person who publishes statements denying the October 7 massacre or diminishing its scale.
The committee decided to add to the foundations of the offence a requirement of intent, similar to the one that exists in the law prohibiting Holocaust denial.
The committee discussed at length the implications of the wording on diminishing the scale of the massacre, and added protection for publications made for a legitimate purpose, for example, within a legal proceeding, similar to the provisions about the offence of consumption of terrorist content in the Counter-Terrorism Law.
Committee Chair MK Rothman: “The bill calls attention to the intensity of evil and to the battle on the military, global and public diplomacy fronts, even within the State of Israel, on the part of various elements—and it is, therefore, of great importance. It should be ensured that we hone and adjust the definitions correctly so that the bill does not just remain on the books.“
MK Forer, the bill’s sponsor: “We held in-principle discussions and explained the importance of the bill here and worldwide, with our demand to prohibit denial of the massacre. The pace is completely different from [the situation] after the Holocaust when the law on Holocaust denial was enacted, and even here in the building, there were attempts of denial. The bill was laid on the Knesset table exactly a year ago, and I hope that we can vote on it. Regulation around the world and in Israel has not kept up with the technological pace of disseminating false information to create a narrative. This battle also requires regulation.“
In the vote, the bill was approved for first reading unanimously, without opposing votes or abstentions.
Based on the press release of the Knesset (13.11.2024). Selected as relevant/edited/shortened by VonNaftali. Symbolic pic by AI