Knesset approves electronic monitoring bracelet law pushed by Ben-Gvir

The Knesset passed the Electronic Monitoring Bracelet Law on Sunday. It was proposed by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir (Otzma Yehudit) after the coalition had previously shot down a different version of the bill submitted by the opposition in March.

“The balanced bill approved today in the Knesset is especially important, as it balances the vital need to fight and prevent domestic violence and our duty... to preserve the freedom of the innocent,” said Ben-Gvir, who proposed the law in collaboration with Justice Minister Yariv Levin (Likud). “Unlike the previous government, which did not implement the law, our government will do so. But it will be a better and more precise law.”

The purpose of the law is to allow the court, in some cases, to impose technological supervision methods on abusers via an electronic monitoring solution, which will allow for the person under surveillance to be continuously monitored in real time.

Yesh Atid MK Merav Ben Ari, one of the proponents of the original bill, burst into tears at the podium while addressing the plenum. She recounted what Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich had told her when the bill was proposed in March.

“He said, ‘There are false complaints from women, so you won’t get this into law,’” Ben Ari said. “He looked me in the eyes and said, ‘It won’t happen.’”

What does the bill say about electronic monitoring bracelets?

The bill contains conditions that need to be met for placing someone under surveillance via an electronic monitoring bracelet.

They include the court being convinced that this is necessary to protect a family member due to a real fear of violating a restraining order, or if the defendant has had a prior conviction for using violence or violating a previous restraining order.

However, the court will also be allowed to order a defendant to be placed under electronic monitoring if it is convinced of “dangerousness.” If even that is not met, the court can still order the defendant to wear electronic monitoring devices for 10 days, with the possibility of extending it another six days.

Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.