Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., November 06, 2008 Cheshvan 8, 5769 | | Israel Time: 02:56 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate U.S. election Travel Week's End Anglo File

MKs okay reforms to Bailiff's Office By Shahar Ilan The Knesset plenum yesterday approved in a second and third reading a bill to reform the Bailiff's Office. The new law is considered one of the most significant passed by the 17th Knesset. The purpose of the reforms is to significantly increase the Bailiff Office's very low debt collection rate. To that end, the office will be granted expanded authorities, including the authority to suspend a debtor's driving license, to bar them from using credit cards and to search their bank, credit card, real estate and other records in order to determine their ability to pay. Advertisement But the bill also contains provisions to ease the hardship of low-income debtors, among other means by prohibiting the issuing of arrest warrants for debts of under NIS 2,000 and requiring banks to furnish alternative housing for up to 18 months to debtors forced out of their homes for failure to pay their mortgage. In 2006 the Bailiff's Office had 2.4 million pending debtors' cases. Only about 200,000 of them - less than 10 percent of the total - were closed with the collection of the debt. The reforms were drafted in the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, in a process that took two years. As part of the reform, the Bailiff's Office will be transferred from the jurisdiction of the courts to that of the justice minister. An accelerated process will enable creditors to pursue the execution of judgment for debts of up to NIS 10,000 through the Bailiff's Office without the need for a lawyer, in a measure aimed at reducing collection costs. In addition to giving the Bailiff's Office Registrar access to creditors' banking, bill payment and property registration records, the new law will also authorize the registrar to suspend not only their driving license and credit cards but also their passport and their ability to found a company or nonpofit association. The framers of the law attempted to balance improved debt collection with the need to protect the basic human rights of those who are genuinely unable to pay their debts. Thus, debtors owing NIS 2,000 or less will no longer face the threat of jail. Committee chairman Menahem Ben-Sasson (Kadima) had wanted that ceiling to be NIS 10,000, but heavy lobbying from the Israel Bar Association brought the ceiling down to NIS 2,000. Two years after the law goes into effect, a two-year moratorium on all incarceration orders is to be initiated. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Never walk alone It's safe to assume that Obama won't abandon Israel. Apprehensive in Israel Rightist MK Aryeh Eldad warns 'Israel should be wary of Barack Obama'

Read & React Bradley Burston: For Republicans, 2 words of advice and comfort Responses: 244 Barack Obama: Change has come to America Responses: 139 Hamas vows to maintain truce, as 35 Qassams hit Negev Responses: 340 Editorial: U.S. election is example of democracy at its best Responses: 122 Arab commentators want to be able to admire America again Responses: 82 More Headlines 01:43 Gaza gunman killed in IAF strike on Qassam squad 01:47 Obama kick-starts transition, picks Rahm Emanuel as chief of staff 01:53 Rightist MK: Israel should be wary of Barack Obama 20:10 Iran: Obama's victory proves 'failure of Bush's policies' 21:56 ANALYSIS / It's safe to assume that Obama won't abandon Israel 00:13 Close to end of term, Rice embarks on Mideast peacemaking trip 21:54 Openly gay Jewish candidate makes history with Colorado win 21:57 Arab commentators want to be able to admire America again 14:56 ANALYSIS / Israel's dilemma: Obama vs. Qassams 15:02 Barack Obama wins 77 percent of Jewish vote, exit polls show 19:21 Golan residents launch PR offensive as Syria talks loom 15:49 Police trying to disperse East Jerusalem rioters in house demolition row Previous Editions Select Day 05 nov 04 nov 03 nov 02 nov 31 oct 30 oct 29 oct 28 oct 27 oct 26 oct 24 oct 23 oct

Special Offers Advertisement Living in Israel Studying in English Click & Meet our students from all around the world Dan Boutique Jerusalem New Dan Hotel in Jerusalem Young, Fun & Distinctively Dan Book Now Online! Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. Car rental in Israel Shlomo Sixt Receive $15.00 from our low rates. Dial 013 for your long-distance calls and get all your money back US CITIZENS Vote for real change. Request your ballot today! Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Jewish Singles Personal Ads Find the love of your life on JDate.com Israel's Premier Real Estate Website www. israel-property.com Hebrew Summer courses From $39.95 Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

birthright Israel | Search engine marketing

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved