Proposed Law: photographing IDF soldiers in action

The Ministerial Legislative Committee today approved the law proposal that has become known as the "Azarya Law", dubbed after the soldier Alor Azarya who was convicted and served time in the brig after he shot and killed an Arab terrorist after he had already been neutralized. The law proposal will move on the Knesset for voting later this week.

The law proposal put forth by MK Robert Iltov (Yisrael Beyteynu) would prohibit the photographing and documentation of IDF soldiers activities.

The proposal has two stages. One who documents the activities of soldiers and distributes that documentation will have one level of punishment. If it can be proven that there was also intent to harm the security of the State, the punishment will be doubled.

Iltov explains that it is incomprehensible that an activist or leftist organization, funded by foreign interests will have free access to document Israeli soldiers in action. We must grant them the most optimal conditions to perform their duties without worrying about whether someone is videoing them and will distribute their pictures and images.
source: Kol Hai News and Kipa

I have no idea if this is good or bad, but it is interesting. I get the argument. You tie the hands of the soldiers who will be afraid of acting and will always be looking over their shoulders. On the other hand, in Israel soldiers are out in the open all over public areas - how do you control what people take pictures of? What if someone posted online a picture they thought was cool, with no intent to shame a soldier or get someone in trouble, but other people then make use of it for other purposes? Rav Yuval Cherlow's argument that such a law makes it look like Israel has something to hide is also compelling.

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