Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., April 04, 2008 Adar2 29, 5768 | | Israel Time: 05:23 (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

Last update - 05:22 04/04/2008 Witness protection program bill passes first Knesset reading By Shahar Ilan, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Israel, Knesset  The Knesset passed a bill to set up a witness protection program in its first reading on Thursday. The bill would set up an authority to change the identities of threatened witnesses and to protect them and their families before, during and after the trial. The legislation outlines the structure of the new authority, and would set up a steering committee headed by the attorney general to set policy regulations for witness protection and identity changes. Advertisement The policy would define criteria for accepting witnesses into the program and draft plans to protect them and reintegrate them and their families into society under their new identities. Currently, police can protect witnesses only until the end of the trial. In special cases, the police can subsidize plane tickets abroad for witnesses. The lack of a witness protection program has deterred many potential witnesses from taking the stand for fear of retribution. Participants in the witness protection program would receive government documents, such as an identity card and a passport, under their new identity, and could be relocated to other countries. However, marital status will not be changed, and witnesses will not receive documents attesting to fictitious education, skills or licenses. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Bread will abound J'lem court allows pizzerias, bakeries to sell leavened products during Passover. The looking glass A T.A. film festival tackles Israel's hardest issues from war to polygamy.

Today Online Al Qaida's no. 2 vows to attack Jews worldwide Responses: 138 Top Palestinian official calls for halting peace talks with Israel Responses: 181 U.S. Reform leader: Alliance with Evangelicals is bad for Israel Responses: 145 Haifa doctors get 2-month suspension for wrongful hysterectomy Responses: 24 Rosner's Domain The Iranian bomb and the chain reaction (WTR) Intermarriage pushes the question: what does it mean to be Jewish? Poll: Who'll win the Jewish vote in PA? Israel Factor: McCain-Barak, the dream team Israelis approve of U.S. leadership (WTR) More Headlines 03:30 Israel, U.S. to boycott UN anti-racism conference 03:47 Intelligence sources: Syria hasn't called up reserve forces 01:42 ANALYSIS: Zigzag response to Syria tensions doesn't signal war 04:30 Bill banning MKs from visiting hostile states goes to plenum 23:38 T.A. film festival tackles Israel's hardest issues from war to polygamy 04:58 Russian-Israelis abroad unaware repatriation program targets them 02:18 Iran links up more centrifuges as it continues nuclear program 02:55 Civil defense drill starts Sun.; to include mock chemical attack 02:34 'Smart classes' bring computerized learning aids to classrooms 22:38 Pope to visit N.Y. synagogue led by Holocaust survivor 23:04 Independent PA panel: Hamas man 'tortured to death' in custody 01:10 IDF completes removal of 50 roadblocks across the W. Bank Previous Editions Select Day 03 apr 02 apr 01 apr 31 mar 30 mar 28 mar 27 mar 26 mar 25 mar 24 mar 23 mar 21 mar

Special Offers Advertisement Learn Hebrew online with Israel's best teachers Sign up for a trial lesson today Behind the Z Word Scholarly essays, commentary, podcasts, blogs and much more. NEW! Dan Boutique Jerusalem Hotel Hip Dan Hotel in Jerusalem. Attractive Introductory Rates Pardes Institute Summer Sessions Study Jewish texts and issues in Jerusalem, Co-ed, All Levels FAREWELL ISRAEL New Film The Coming War for Islamic Revival - View Movie Trailer Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations 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 |

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