JERUSALEM, Mar 29 (NNN-MA’AN) – Israeli lawmakers, yesterday, passed a controversial law banning fermented wheat foods in hospitals, during the Passover holiday, based on dietary taboo in Orthodox Jewism.
The law, sponsored by Israel’s hard-right and ultra-religious government, passed by a narrow margin of 48-43, in the 120-seat Knesset, or Israeli parliament. The remaining lawmakers either abstained from voting or were absent during the vote.
The legislation follows religious Jewish laws that prohibit believers from eating wheat-based foods and beverages, known as “chametz,” during the seven-day Passover holiday.
The new law authorises hospital directors to ban the supply of “chametz” foods in hospitals and forbid visitors from bringing “chametz” foods into hospitals.
An earlier version of the controversial bill authorised hospital security staff to inspect visitors and search for “chametz” products, but the final version does not allow direct searches.
The law sparked anger and criticism, with opponents saying, it imposes Jewish dietary restrictions on non-religious people. A significant portion of the Israeli population may be affected by the new law, despite not practicing Judaism or observing Jewish dietary laws. According to official figures, about 20 percent of Israel’s 9.7 million population are Muslim or Christian Arabs, and more than 40 percent of the Jewish population live a secular lifestyle.
Addressing the Knesset, opposition leader, Yair Lapid, who heads the liberal Yesh Atid party, denounced the law as “forcing Judaism” on citizens.
Uriel Boso, a lawmaker with the ultra-Orthodox party of Shas, argued in the Knesset that, the law is “balanced.” According to Boso, the coalition drafted the bill after the Supreme Court ruled in 2021 that, hospitals don’t have the authority to ban “chametz” during Passover.
The law comes as Israel was facing three-week-long massive protests, over a contentious plan by Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, to overhaul the judiciary and weaken the Supreme Court.– NNN-MA’AN
