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Basic Law: Human Dignity and Liberty

Basic Law: Human Dignity and Liberty

Jerusalem, 17 March 1992

 

1 – Basic principles (Amendment dated 10 March 1994)

The basic human rights in Israel are based on the recognition of the value of the human being, the sanctity of his life, and his being a free person, and they shall be upheld in the spirit of the principles included in the Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel.

1A – Purpose

1a. The purpose of this Basic Law is to protect human dignity and liberty, in order to embed the values of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, in a basic law.

2 – Preservation of life, body and dignity

One should not violate the life, body, or dignity of a human being as such.

3 – Protection of property

The property of a human being shall not be violated.

4 – Protection of life, body and dignity

Every human being is entitled to protection of his life, body and dignity.

5 – Personal liberty

The liberty of a human being shall not be taken or restricted, by means of imprisonment, detention, extradition, or in any other manner.

6 – Departure from the State of Israel, and entry to it

A. Every person is free to exit Israel.

B. Every Israeli citizen who is abroad is entitled to enter Israel.

7 – Privacy and intimacy

A. Every person has a right to privacy and to intimacy in his life.

B. There shall be no entry into the private premises of a person, without his permission.

C. No search shall be held on the private premises of a person, upon his body, in his body, or among his private effects.

D. The confidentiality of conversation of a person, his writings or his records shall not be violated.

8- Violation of rights (Amendment dated 10 March 1994)

One is not to violate the rights accorded by this Basic Law save by means of a law that corresponds to the values of the State of Israel, which serves an appropriate purpose, and to an extent that does not exceed what is required, or on the basis of a law, as aforementioned, by force of an explicit authorization therein.

9 – Reservation regarding the security forces

The rights of persons serving in the Israel Defense Forces, the Israel Police, the Prisons Service, and other security organizations of the State, shall not be limited under this Basic Law, nor shall these rights be subject to conditions, save by virtue of a law, or by regulation enacted by virtue of a law, and to an extent that does not exceed what is required by the essence and nature of the service.

10 – Retention of laws

This Basic Law shall not affect the validity of any law that existed prior to the inception of the Basic Law.

11- Applicability

Each and every government authority is obliged to respect the rights in accordance with this Basic Law.

12 – Stability of the law

Emergency regulations do not have the power to change this Basic Law, to temporarily suspend it, or to lay down conditions to it. However, when a state of emergency exists in the State, by virtue of a declaration under article 9 of the Law and Administration Ordinance 5708-1948, emergency regulations may be enacted on the basis of the said article, that will involve denial or limitation of rights under this Basic Law, provided that the denial or limitation shall be for a worthy purpose, and for a period and an extent that do not exceed the required.

 

Source: at main.knesset.gov.il