it is adictive, before you make this law you need to find out in which enviorment make them start to begin with, like any drug people will go even further and steal for their addiction, money fine never works, but this way the gov needs more funding it is sure way to get it.

I pride myself in having stopped smoking on my own for 21 years already. This has proved better for my health and my pocket ... !

So, good luck with THAT. I'm a smoker, but I don't light up where it isn't allowed and I am fairly sensitive to others who don't like smoke. But I also have rights.

I welcome these proposals. Decreasing cigarette smoking will result in healthier (former) smokers and healthier non-smokers, whose health is harmed by inhaling second-hand and third-hand smoke. In addition, litter will be reduced, as cigarette butts and empty cigarette packs are often thrown onto the ground or into bushes, rather than into the appropriate garbage containers.

OK, now I can comment. Here we go, they need to form another bureaucratic dept. & hire more busy-bodies to make even more regulations. There are enough regulations. There are certainly enough bureaucrats. Gov't. cannot (or should I say, should not?) regulate every aspect of life. This is becoming fanaticism, an obsession. Fine, smoking is a lousy habit, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. But, it's the individual's responsibility, it's a persons choice, even if wrong. The last thing we need is a cigarette police.

this isn't against smokers but against smoking. much like alchohol if it was done on daily basis than you had mass rehabe programs due to alcholism.

Has the Israeli government nothing more important to discuss in parlimeny but cigerettes?? Is the smolking the limit of business for our corrupt politicians?? Does the tobacco companies refuse to bribe the politicians hence the talks in the knesset ?? I am a smoker and see that the knesset must be very hard up if for the few if time must be wasted in discussions of smoking

Why not make it against army regulation and stop all soldiers from smoking while they are in uniform. Smoking also compromises a soldier's physical capabilities. If a soldier, wants to smoke while on leave, that is one thing, but once in uniform, no.

....from between 1 and 2 packs a day for 20 years. I put the packet of cigs on the shelf one night, and it is still sitting in the same spot, in full view. I personally cannot handle cig smoke any more. Even being outdoors, standing near someone who is smoking, disgusts me. Makes me realise how unpleasant it was for non-smokers around me smoking. I don't think anyone has a right to smoke if it causing someone else discomfort. Israelis are by nature generally inconsiderate, so as much as I dislike more legislation, it really is the only way to deal with this problem. The main problem is that the laws are not seriously enforced.

I am a middle-class citizen of Israel who can not afford private automobile and travels often by bus or train. I do not smock and tired of these people who are smocking at each and every corner without any consideration to others. I stand on bus-stop and someone comes and lights a cigarette. I change the place and someones comes their and lights cigatette and I change the place again. This gets repeated on bus-stops, train stations, malls, parks - yes parks with full of children and so on... I am tired of these situations... I will appreciate if government will do something for such situations faced by many non-smocking people like me.

... what's the use of new one?

When I was growing up, dinosaurs LOL, cigarettes were 30 cents for a pack of 25. Almost all adults smoked, many as much as 2 1/2 packs a day. Rude obnoxious utter swine, such as my late father, used to blow smoke in our faces. The reason people could get away with all the rude behavior, was of course smokers were the clear majority. Fast forward to the present. The dirt poor, street people, Natives and so forth have yet to see any real reduction in smoking rates; but among professionals and subprofessionals it is low and steadily shrinking. Now the shoe is on the other foot, the rude swine find themselves facing stricter and stricter rules; as cities and buildings invent ever more rules, such as no smoking within 9 meters of the entrance. Two things turn it around: higher excise taxation on tobacco and the social pressure generated by large numbers of non smokers. Now a lifelong non smoker like myself tends to generate no social pressure; who really gets into that are the exsmokers themselves. No surprise there, same mechanism as exdrunks.

Terry is right - if they are going to bother enforcing a new law, then at least it should be seen through to the end. So does that mean we can expect the cigarette rangers out in force? They should just give up. I'm still buying cigs at 23 shekels a packet and if they increase tax, I will still buy them.

I was at a restaurant the other day, and we were seated at the bar as no other tables were available. On both sides of us everyone was smoking while we were eating. When I asked to be moved they said they couldn't accommodate us since the restaurant was full, to which I replied, "Isn't smoking illegal in bars and restaurants? Why are we the ones asking to be accommodated?" Their reply was "Yes it is illegal, but we let them." Apparently, the fine imposed on allowing patrons to smoke is less than the income generated from allowing patrons to smoke. Where I come from, the penalty for allowing smoking in a restaurant or bar is you get shut down. How about that for an idea?

Under pressure I still yearn a bit but no for more than a few seconds!

Why do you think you have more say than them? They WANT to smoke before they get on a no-smoking bus/train etc.

but smoke DOES affect me. If people want to pick a filthy dirty habit, practice it away from the rest of society. If you drink to excess , dont do it in the mall. If you want to take drugs, dont lie around on our streets, if you want to smoke, not near the rest of us.

under the NO SMOKING! signs. The gov't does nothing to enforce existing laws.

for everything you stop doing it vcreates a vacuuim that needs to be filled by something better I would add meditation to the list, in fact, it should be first. nicotine can only get u so far

With just ine minor proviso Do it with your head in a plastic bag, so that you and only you, can enjoy all the cancerous vapors that filthy habit exudes without contaminating others Smoke 4, 5, 6 packs a day, hasten your departure !!!

Just make sure you inhale all the smoke and don't exhale anywhere near me or mine Smell your clothes & car, dog, wife, kids, they all must stink If you REALLY wnat to smoke,use kereosene, you will be a light to the world of other inconsiderate slobs

... but I do not think that it is the job of the government to legislate people's health. Drug abuse -- yes. Alcohol abuse -- yes. But a smoker's performance in the workploace is not affected by nicotine; a smoker can get behind the wheel of his car and be no danger to anyone, whether he has had one cigarette, ten cigarettes or 100 cigarettes. In a perfect world, smokers would realize that smoking really is not good for their health, and make every effort to quit, which I understand can be difficult, because nicotine is extremely addictive. In that case, the Health Ministry should make available nicotine patches and nicotine gum, or even hpnosis (which some people claim works) and acupuncture (which is thought to work as well). Passing silly public ordinances will drive smokers indoors, where they will not contribute to the cash health of restaurants, clubs and bars. I have never been a smoker, and I don't particularly like being around cigarette smoke, but there are better ways to encourage people to stop smoking.

places. I work with a smoker. He comes in to take over his shift and he lights up before anyone leaves. When one of us non smokers takes over the shift, the room is filled with smoke. And ashes and crushed filters.He does not even use an ash tray. On occasion, we have guests to the factory and they are smoking and standing a meter away from me. I stopped smoking over 22 years ago. For me it was easy. Why do I need to inhale second smoke? Or have my workplace polluted with third hand smoke? Give the smokers fines that will hurt their pockets.A fine of three thousand shekels for the first offense. Triple that with a hundred hours of community service for the second offense. Also those that deliberately smoke in places like supermarkets, let them start off with a five thousand shekel fine and if they start to make a lot of noise and try to hurt the inspector,give them two weeks in jail without cigarettes. Finally add another ten shekel tax to cigarettes.

died. Make the tax on cigarettes and other tobacco so high only the very rich can afford them and make the penalty for smuggling so high that you lose your car or your apartment for having a pack in your possession that does not have a tax sticker. Smoking is suicide.

that smokers have rights I would like to explain the following. It is my right to breathe fresh and clean air. This is a natural right, a right given to me by nature and by virtue of the fact that my body has the natural need to do this. This right of mine preceeds any right of anyone who wishes to smoke and pollute the air that I breathe. This is a matter of common sense but it is also a ruling by the Supreme Court of The United States of America. Smokers have no right whatsoever to pollute the air that I breathe. Enlightened societies arrived at this conclusion many years ago. It is now my conclusion that if Israel does not enact laws to bring us into sync and on a par with these societies then I cannot and will not refer to Israel as a modern and enlightened society. The other concern in this matter is that as with many other cases the run of the mill Israeli sticks his fingers at the law and smokes right under the sign stating "no smoking". No respect for the law and no respect for others, this is the norm.

Unfortunately in Israel smoking is still associated with machismo. Smoking is a horrible dirty smelly and extremely dangerous habit which causes lung cancer, heart disease and death. The "glamour" needs taking out and the truth put in its place.

Some twenty five years ago Menashe Raz the TV presenter broke down in front of the cameras during newscasting. He simply stopped talking, coughed twice and then fell off his chair. The man was a chain smoker and the diagnosis was nicotine poisoning. It could happen anywhere, even behind the wheel of a car.

I have accepted and comply with all the public bans. I have no interest in harming anyone else with my habit, which I only pursue outdoors or in my own residence these days. I agree fully that people should be able to be smoke-free indoors. But please spare me lectures, higher taxes and health policing! Can those of us who smoke not also be granted just a measure of consideration? For example, after a 12-hour smokeless flight to Tel Aviv, can't we have a small space to duck into prior to facing passport control and customs? We're a dwindling minority, yes - but it seems that except for us, minorities rule today. All I request is a measure of consideration.