Knesset approves law allowing property owners to kill intruders
By Haaretz Service
Tags: Shai Dromi, Zahava Gal-On
The Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee on Wednesday approved in second and third readings a broad version of the "Shai Dromi Bill," which absolves from criminal responsibility anyone who kills or injures an intruder in his home, business or farm.
According to the approved version, "a person shall not be held criminally responsible for an action that was necessary immediately to repel someone breaking into or entering a residence, place of business or fenced farm, with the intention of perpetrating a crime, or someone trying to break in."
The law would not apply in a case where the act of self-defense was "patently unreasonable," or in the event that a provocation led to the break-in.
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Negev rancher Shai Dromi was charged with manslaughter after shooting intruders on his ranch. The Shai Dromi Bill is aimed at avoiding a trial in these cases. The bill was proposed by MKs Yisrael Katz (Likud), Yisrael Hasson (Israel Beiteinu), and Zvi Hendel and Eliahu Gabay (National Union-NRP). Six lawmakers supported it in committee and four opposed, including committee chair Menahem Ben-Sasson (Kadima).
MK Ophir Pines-Paz (Labor) slammed Labor ministers for voting in favor of the law and said they made a lot of "foolish mistakes." Meretz whip Zahava Gal-On said at the committee meeting a fortnight ago that the bill "gives permission to kill people," and suggested sarcastically: "Just spray the intruders and be done with it. Hand out machine guns to every moshavnik." MK David Rotem (Yisrael Beitenu) told Gal-On "then don't come by my home," to which Gal-On replied "I can't believe this is real, the Knesset is crazy." "The Knesset is crazy for having people like you in it," Rotem retorted.
The bill would make exemption from criminal responsibility due to self-defense more flexible in two respects. It does not require that a person defending himself against an intruder to be in tangible danger, as is required of a person who acts to repel an assailant. Secondly, it grants protection to a person who has acted in an unreasonable manner (though not patently unreasonable).
