The Ministerial Legislative Committee adopted Sunday a bill submitted by Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter seeking to limit the possibility to hold demonstrations opposite the homes of public officials.
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A recent example was a demonstration held by Right-wing activists opposite the house of the Central Command chief in protest of administrative injunctions that were issued against them.
The bill, which is essentially an amendment to the Police Law, formally draws the difference between a demonstration and a protest watch, and is scheduled to be brought for the Knesset's approval in the near future.
Dichter said that the phenomenon of demonstrating near the private homes of public officials has vastly expanded in recent years. The protesters often use these demonstrations to pressure, intimidate and harass the officials, in a bid to influence them and affect their professional decisions, he explained.
The minister noted that the amendment aims to restore the balance between the freedom of speech on the one hand, and the individual's right for privacy and his right not to be subject to harassment in his own home, on the other hand.
According to the amendment, the police would not grant permit to demonstrate outside a private home when there is an effective alternative for achieving the protest's objective.
Another amendment entailed in the bill would compel protesters to secure a permit for a protest watch as well.
Dichter said he hopes that these amendments would minimize the damage done to officials' privacy.
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