A seven-member committee headed by a woman judge was named by Justice Minister Haim Zadok today to examine all aspects of the prostitution problem in Israel and recommend legislative measures. Zadok consulted with two women MKs–Shoshanna Arbeli and Marcia Friedman–before he appointed the body.
His move followed the Knesset’s passage, on first reading, of a bill that would subject prostitutes who annoy their neighbors to punishment as “public nuisances.” Prostitution as such is not a punishable offense under Israeli law. The committee has been asked to examine this situation and determine whether it should be changed. Activities related to prostitution that are listed as offenses under the criminal code include procuring, operating a brothel, and white slavery.
The committee is headed by Mrs. Hadassah Ben-Ito, a senior judge of the Tel Aviv district court. Its members include a senior police officer, a criminologist, two prominent psychologists, a high official of the Welfare Ministry and a woman lawyer.
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