Knesset panel seeks to ban renting of hookahs to minors

The Knesset Economics Committee approved a bill Wednesday that, if passed on its second and third reading, would forbid minors from renting hookahs ('nargila' in Hebrew and Arabic) or purchasing its tobacco byproducts at stores.

A hookah is a glass-based water-pipe used for smoking fruit-flavored tobacco.

The bill, which was initiated by Yisrael Beiteinu MKs Robert Ilatov and Yosef Shagal, would also force importers to place a health warning on the tobacco packs like those that are on cigarette boxes. The fine for breaking the law would be NIS 12,900.

According to the International Health Organization, smoking a hookah is four times more damaging then smoking cigarettes. Moreover, the ingredients found in the fruit tobacco used are left unsupervised.