Motions to amend Israel’s widely-criticized new libel law were defeated at a special session of Parliament today, by a vote of 51 to 54. The vote was on party lines with all coalition party members voting to support Premier Levi Eshkol’s objection to action on the matter at the present time, and most of the opposition parties voting for amendment now.
Members of former Premier David Ben-Gurion’s new National Workers List (Rafi), and two members of Agudat Israel abstained. The special session had been made mandatory by submission of a petition by the opposition parties.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
