Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., February 18, 2008 Adar1 12, 5768 | | Israel Time: 19:15 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Ita Fogel, the victim of a brutal assault and robbery, protests in August in support of stiffer penalties for attacking the elderly. (Doron Golan / Jini) Last update - 12:45 18/02/2008 New bill would make attacks on the elderly require imprisonment By Shahar Ilan, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Israel, Elderly, Crime  The Knesset Constitution, Law, and Justice committee on Monday passed a bill that will make attacks on the elderly punishable by a mandatory prison sentence. The new bill calls for raising the maximum sentence for aggravated assault on a senior citizen from 3 years to 5 years, while the maximum for assault that causes serious bodily harm will remain 7 years. Under the new bill, a judge who wants to prevent a defendant convicted of attacking a senior citizen from imprisonment will have to present the court with special, extenuating reasons that would preclude the suspect from prison. Advertisement The bill lists as senior citizens anyone who is over the age of 65. While the bill would significantly raise the severity of punishment for attacks on the elderly, it still falls far short of the bill proposed by Yisrael Beitenu MK David Rotem which called for a mandatory 20-year-sentence for aggravated assaults on the elderly and a minimum 10-year-sentence for any other sort of assault on a senior citizen. The past year has seen a series of high-profile attacks on elderly citizens of Israel, with many involving especially brutal acts of violence. Related articles: Burglar savagely beats, robs elderly Jerusalem woman Third suspect charged in brutal robbery of elderly Haifa woman 19-year-old charged with abusing Haifa resident during robbery Two men sentenced for killing elderly woman, robbing another Sentence hearing opens for man accused of torturing woman, 68 Bookmark to del.icio.us   Independence day Kosovars rejoice as Kosovo declares itself an independent and sovereign state. Settling the score 1/3 of W. Bank settlements are on Palestinian land seized for 'security purposes.'   1.   Harsher sentencing for all violent crimes 12:59  |  DC 18/02/08   2.   Good. It should, like attacking a baby.Protect our well of wisdom 13:01  |  Selah 18/02/08   3.   enriched by the knesset 13:07  |  jeb 18/02/08   4.   Finally, inprisonment for secular pogrom!!!!!!! 13:12  |  Ani 18/02/08   5.   New bill would make attacks on the elderly require imprisonment 15:56  |  concerned citizen 18/02/08   6.   Crime 16:28  |  Millicent 18/02/08   7.   #5, but when the law is effective 17:28  |  jeb 18/02/08

Today Online Bradley Burston: Anti-Zionism as a form of racism Responses: 228 Iran Revolutionary Guard chief: Hezbollah will destroy Israel Responses: 196 Top diplomat: Calling Sderot-Gaza violence 'cycle' may breed terror Responses: 91 Anshel Pfeffer: Are Israeli policies risking the lives of Diaspora Jews? Responses: 52 Abbas rejects PM call to defer talks on Jerusalem Responses: 77 Report: Progress made in Shalit prisoner swap deal Responses: 31 Rosner's Domain Brzezinski didn't show up (WTR) How would Obama handle Israel? Ex-advisors offer clues Clinton's peace team: the attacks on Rob Malley "vicious" (WTR) Most blatant example of Israeli interference in American election The U.S. and Mughniyah / Not just 'who' but also 'where' More Headlines 14:47 Abbas rejects PM call to defer talks on Jerusalem 19:08 Report: Israel deploys Patriot missiles fearing Hezbollah strike 17:25 Four Qassams hit west Negev, residents treated for shock 17:06 Egypt to deport 500 Palestinians who crossed in border breach 17:43 Top diplomat: Calling violence in south a 'cycle' may breed terror 14:42 French gov't softens Sarkozy plan to honor Holocaust victims 19:14 U.S. recognizes Kosovo independence as Israel delays taking stance 18:49 Israel Museum exhibits art looted by Nazis and unclaimed 18:48 Statistics bureau notes record high tourism rates in January 2008 13:25 Report: Progress made in deal to free abducted soldier Shalit 16:40 Jerusalem girds for rare snow rerun as storm makes landfall 16:39 Security guard convicted of killing taunting friend 12:46 Quality of air improves in central Israel, Haifa Previous Editions Select Day 17 feb 15 feb 14 feb 13 feb 12 feb 11 feb 10 feb 08 feb 07 feb 06 feb 05 feb 04 feb

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