New bill: Visit prostitute, go to jail
MK suggests new bill that would send prostitute patrons to prison for up to six months; poll: 80% of public does not support measure
MK Zahava Gal-On (Meretz) intends to present a measure to the Knesset committee on the trafficking of women Tuesday that will prescribe sending clients of the 'the world's oldest profession' to prison.
The measure would totally outlaw paying for sexual services. Violators would be subject to a jail term of up to six months if found guilty.
Those sentenced to jail time for the crime could reduce their sentences by participating in an educational workshop on the harms of prostitution.
A law similar to the one to be proposed already exists in some European countries including Sweden and France.
Chief Public Defender Inbal Rubinstein is scheduled to participate in the discussions regarding the bill. She intends to articulate her opposition to any legislation that would cause harm to clients of prostitution.
A poll conducted by the Knesset center for research and information on the matter found that 80% of the public opposes jail time for bordello visitors and 9% believe a fine would be a more appropriate measure. Only 6% believe prison time is the proper punishment.
The poll also found that the majority of the public does believe that the proposed new law would greatly reduce the amount of prostitute patrons.
