The government of Israel has approved a bill which will allow to force feed prisoners who are on hunger strike if their lives are in danger. The controversial move has not been supported by the Israel Medical Association (IMA). The cabinet’s endorsement of the controversial bill was led by Internal Security Minister Gilad Erdan.
The bill will go to the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, for first and second readings before it becomes law. The same bill was approved by the Israeli government last year but the Knesset was dissolved before it could start deliberating. The bill was initially approved in June 2014 at the height of a mass hunger strike of Palestinian prisoners during which 80 were hospitalised.
Tidbits
- Capital of Israel – Jerusalem
- President – Benjamin Netanyahu
- Prime Minister – Reuven Rivlin
- Currency – Israeli new shekel
- Voicemail technology was developed in Israel.
- In its Basic Laws, Israel defines itself as a Jewish and Democratic State.
- The first antivirus software for computers was created in Israel in 1979.
- Israel’s financial center is Tel Aviv.
- Israel’s national bird is the hoopoe.
