ISRAEL: Harsher Punishment For Attackers Of Elderly

TEL AVIV, Israel (Haaretz), December 25, 2007: The Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee on Tuesday approved for first reading Pensioners' Party MK Moshe Sharoni's proposal to impose harsher punishments for attackers of elderly people. According to the proposed amendment, the maximum penalty for inflicting a substantial injury on an elderly person will be extended from three to five years in jail and that for inflicting a severe injury will be extended from seven to ten years. Compulsory imprisonment will also be instated. The Justice Ministry has also drafted a similar proposal amid growing voices to amend increasing attacks on the elderly. Attorney Amit Marari said on behalf of the ministry that the proposal seeks to send a message of deterrence Also on Tuesday, the Knesset plenum will debate another proposed bill, submitted by MK David Rotem (Yisrael Beitenu), which advocates even harsher penalties. It was approved a few weeks ago by the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee despite the objection of committee Chairman Menahem Ben-Sasson. Police records reveal that since January, 1,978 complaints about violence against people over the age of 65 have been filed, as opposed to 1,497 last year. By Shahar Ilan © Copyright 2007 Haaretz.