National Civic Service Law, 5774-2014
חוק שירות לאומי-אזרחי, תשע"ד-2014
Published: 2014-03-19Consolidated Hebrew text as of 2026-04-06 · Last amended 2026-03-31✓ Amendment status checked against the Knesset legislation record on 2026-09-17
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Unofficial English translation — for reference only. It may contain errors or omissions and cannot be relied on as a legal text. Only the Hebrew text published in Reshumot is legally binding.More
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The Hebrew text as published in Reshumot (ספר החוקים) and on the Knesset website is the sole authoritative and legally binding version. In any discrepancy, the Hebrew text prevails.
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Chapter I: Definitions
Definitions§
1.
In this Law –
"Area" – as defined in the Schedule to the Law for the Amendment and Extension of the Validity of Emergency Regulations (Judea and Samaria – Jurisdiction over Offences and Legal Assistance), 5767-2007;
"operating body" – a body that the Authority has approved for the purpose of operating persons serving in national civic service, pursuant to the provisions of section 14;
"the Committee" – a committee of the Knesset committees, as the Knesset Committee shall determine for the purposes of this Law;
"Environmental Protection Law" – the Environmental Protection Law (Supervision and Enforcement Powers), 5771-2011;
"Civic Service Law" – the Civic Service Law, 5777-2017;
"Security Service Law" – the Security Service Law [Consolidated Version], 5746-1986;
"designated for security service", "enlistment officer" and "regular service" – as defined in the Security Service Law;
"the Director" – the Director General of the Authority appointed pursuant to section 19(c);
"person serving in national civic service" – a person who serves in national civic service pursuant to this Law;
"the Authority" – the National Civic Service Authority established pursuant to section 19(a);
"public authority" –
(1)the Government and Government ministries, including their units and their ancillary units;
(2)the Office of the President of the State;
(3)courts, tribunals, execution offices and other bodies possessing judicial power under law;
(4)a local authority;
(5)the National Insurance Institute;
(6)another body, provided that all of the following conditions are fulfilled in respect of it:
(a)it performs a public function;
(b)it is an audited body within the meaning of section 9(1) to (7) of the State Comptroller Law, 5718-1958 [Consolidated Version];
(c)the main part of its activity is in the fields of civil-social service enumerated in section 3(a);
"civil-security service" – national civic service pursuant to section 4;
"civil-social service" – national civic service pursuant to section 3;
"national civic service" – service pursuant to this Law for a person in respect of whom the provisions of section 2 are fulfilled;
"the Minister" – a member of the Government whom the Government has empowered to implement this Law.
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Contact Us →Chapter II: Principles of National Civic Service
Target Population§
2.
(a)A person designated for security service in respect of whom all of the following conditions are fulfilled may serve in national civic service:
(1)he has attained the age of 21 years;
(2)a deferment order was issued to him, pursuant to the provisions of Chapter III-A of the Security Service Law before its expiry on the 11th of Tammuz 5783 (30 June 2023);
(3)he has requested to serve in national civic service;
(4)a commanding officer has approved his request to serve in national civic service, following an approach by the Authority to the commanding officer in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b).
(b)Where a request as referred to in subsection (a)(3) has been submitted, the Authority shall approach the commanding officer to obtain his approval of the request.
(c)Where a commanding officer's approval as referred to in subsection (b) has been received, the Authority shall refer the person designated for security service to an operating body for the purpose of performing national civic service.
Civil-Social Service§
3.
(a)Civil-social service shall be in one of the fields or roles listed below, all subject to the provisions pursuant to this Law: internal security, home front defence, health, welfare, education, environmental protection, immigrant absorption, assistance to senior citizens, road safety, public safety, promotion of employment, governmental information regarding rights, and exposure of archival material in the State Archives.
(b)Civil-social service in the field of education shall be performed only in an educational institution for children, and the number of persons serving in civil-social service whom the Authority refers for service in that field shall not exceed 300 in any year; in this subsection, "educational institution" and "child" – as defined in the Compulsory Education Law, 5709-1949.
(c)For the purposes of bodies listed in items (1) to (5) of the definition of "public authority", civil-social service may also be in one of the following fields: information security, defence exports, procurement and logistics, and public enquiries regarding rights.
Civil-Security Service§
4.
(a)Civil-security service shall be in one of the bodies listed below, in any field or role, all subject to the provisions pursuant to this Law:
(1)ancillary units of the Prime Minister's Office whose purpose of activity is the security of the State and its residents;
(2)the Israel Police;
(3)the Israel Prison Service;
(4)the National Fire and Rescue Authority;
(5)the Witness Protection Authority;
(6)the Green Police and the Sea and Shores Division in the Ministry of Environmental Protection;
(7)the Magen David Adom Association established under the Magen David Adom Law, 5710-1950;
(8)bodies with nationwide deployment whose main occupation is saving human lives and bodies whose assistance is required immediately for the identification of disaster victims, as the Minister shall determine by Order, with the approval of the Committee.
(b)The period of service in a body as referred to in subsection (a)(1) shall be two years; the provisions of Sections 7, 8(d) and item 4 of the Schedule shall not apply to such service, however provisions regarding matters regulated in the said sections shall be determined in internal directives by the head of the body.
(c)
(1)The number of persons serving whom the Authority refers for service in a body as referred to in subsection (a)(7) shall not exceed 100 per year;
(2)The number of persons serving whom the Authority refers for service in bodies as referred to in subsection (a)(8) shall not exceed 100 per year.
Place of National Civic Service§
5.
(a)National civic service shall take place in Israel or in the Area.
(b)Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), the Director may approve a public authority or a corporation in which the conditions referred to in Section 14, as the case may be, are fulfilled and which has submitted a request to that effect, to serve as an operating body for the operation of persons serving in national civic service outside Israel and the Area (in this section – overseas service), provided that the Director finds that all of the following conditions are fulfilled:
(1)the overseas service shall be in the following fields: assistance and aid to Israelis outside the borders of the State of Israel, assistance to those wishing to immigrate to Israel, assistance to Israelis in emergency situations, and governmental information activities;
(2)it has been demonstrated to his satisfaction that the overseas service does not derogate from the rights conferred on persons serving pursuant to this Law, including provisions regarding subsistence allowances, travel to the place of service, required insurance, and quality of service;
(3)the overseas service has been regulated with the state in which it is to be performed, including with regard to entry and residence visas for persons serving in national civic service;
(4)the overseas service shall not be performed in North America or Western Europe.
(c)Without derogating from the provisions of Section 16, an agreement between the Authority and the operating body regarding overseas service shall include, inter alia –
(1)provisions obligating the operating body to allow the Director or his representative to enter at any time the places in which persons serving in overseas service are serving and to require a holder of a position or an employee at that place to provide him with information or a document required for the performance of his functions;
(2)provisions obligating the operating body to bear the travel expenses of the person serving overseas, including from Israel to the place of service and back, and the accommodation expenses at suitable residential premises during the period of service;
(3)provisions obligating the operating body to appoint a person on its behalf at the place of service who shall be responsible for persons serving in overseas service at that place and for ensuring the preservation of their rights and the fulfilment of their duties.
(d)The number of persons serving whom the Authority refers for overseas service shall not exceed 100 per year.
(e)The Director shall issue instructions regarding equitable criteria for the assignment of persons serving to overseas service in operating bodies approved for that purpose pursuant to subsection (b), taking into account, inter alia, the scope of their activity and their deployment throughout the world.
(f)The Director shall issue instructions regarding training to be provided to persons serving in overseas service, in addition to the service training provided to them pursuant to Section 10.
(g)Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7, a person serving in overseas service shall serve an average of 40 hours per week over a period of two years.
(h)The Minister, with the approval of the Committee, shall prescribe provisions regarding overseas service, including on the following matters:
(1)provisions regarding the mechanisms of inspection, oversight and reporting on the operating body and the persons serving in it;
(2)obligations of the Authority to carry out actions to ensure the preservation of the rights of persons serving in overseas service;
(3)provisions regarding the subsistence allowances, benefits and conditions of service to which persons serving in overseas service shall be entitled; such provisions shall be prescribed taking into account the nature of the overseas service and the place of service;
(4)special obligations, payments and provisions arising from the special nature of overseas service that shall apply to operating bodies pursuant to this section.
Provisions Regarding Performance of Service§
6.
(a)National civic service shall be performed at an operating body only, with the consent of the person serving in national civic service and the operating body, and pursuant to a referral by the Authority.
(b)
(1)An operating body shall not place a person serving in national civic service in a position of an employee or as a substitute for its employees;
(2)A person serving in national civic service shall not substitute for or perform the role of an employee of the operating body;
(3)A person serving in national civic service shall assist employees of the operating body in the performance of their functions;
(4)Nothing in the provisions of this subsection shall prevent an operating body from assigning to a person serving in national civic service tasks generally assigned to its employees, or from authorising him with powers as aforesaid, to the extent that such powers have been conferred on a person serving in national civic service in accordance with the provisions of Section 9, for the purpose of assisting employees in the performance of their functions.
(c)
(1)National civic service shall not include cleaning tasks, except for work in a public area for the purpose of maintaining environmental quality; nothing in this provision shall prevent the integration of persons serving in national civic service in a duty roster in which employees of the operating body also participate;
(2)National civic service shall not include tasks that are mainly secretarial services, except in special cases only which, in the opinion of the Director, are of public benefit.
(d)An operating body shall not serve, directly or indirectly, as a place of employment or a place of study for a person serving in national civic service at that body; the provisions of this subsection shall also apply to a body or person connected to an operating body as aforesaid, as the Minister shall prescribe.
(e)A person serving in national civic service shall not engage, during service hours, in work that entitles him to remuneration, and shall not pursue, during service hours, any studies whatsoever, except for service training studies in accordance with Sections 10 and 11.
(f)A person serving in national civic service shall comply with the instructions of the operating body and the instructions of the Authority throughout his period of service, in all matters related to the performance of his service.
(g)
(1)A person serving in national civic service at an operating body that is a public authority shall be subject to the provisions of the law applicable to an employee of that public authority in all matters relating to restrictions on family proximity and rules regarding conflicts of interest;
(2)The Authority shall not refer a person designated for security service to perform national civic service at an operating body that is not a public authority if a family member of his is employed at that operating body; however, the Director may grant a permit for the operation of a person serving in national civic service at an operating body as aforesaid at which his family member is employed, if he is satisfied that it is possible to prevent the conflict of interest liable to arise in the circumstances of the matter and that the operation of the person serving in national civic service will not impair integrity, and he may make such a permit subject to conditions he deems fit;
(3)Where an operating body becomes aware of a family relationship between a person serving in national civic service who is serving at that body and an employee of the operating body, it shall report this to the Authority.
(h)
(1)The Minister may prescribe additional conditions and restrictions regarding the roles to be performed by persons serving in national civic service; conditions and restrictions that shall apply only to persons serving in civil-security service, relating to the unique characteristics of the operating body, shall be prescribed with the consent of the Minister designated as responsible for that body, if a Minister has been so designated;
(2)The Minister, with the approval of the Committee, may prescribe additional roles in which national civic service shall not be performed; additional roles in operating bodies in civil-security service only shall be prescribed following consultation with the Minister designated as responsible for that body, if a Minister has been so designated.
Period and Scope of Service§
7.
(a)
(1)A person serving in civil-social service shall serve an average of 30 hours per week over a period of two years, or an average of 20 hours per week over a period of three years;
(2)A person serving in civil-security service shall serve an average of 36 hours per week over a period of two years.
(b)Where the service of a person serving at an operating body has been terminated before the end of his period of service, the service he has served until the termination of his service shall be counted as part of the period of service, and he shall be able to complete the period of service pursuant to this section at another operating body.
Conditions of Service§
8.
(a)No employer-employee relationship shall apply between the person serving in national civic service and the operating body and the Authority.
(b)A person serving in national civic service shall not receive remuneration for the service; however, he shall be entitled to subsistence allowances at rates to be prescribed by the Minister, with the consent of the Minister of Finance, in accordance with the type of role and the nature of his service and in accordance with his family status, provided that the rate of the subsistence allowances shall not exceed the subsistence allowance of a soldier in regular service.
(c)A person serving in national civic service is entitled to the funding of travel expenses by public transport from his place of residence to the place of service and back, as well as additional conditions of service as detailed in the Schedule; the Minister, with the approval of the Committee, may, by Order, amend the Schedule.
(c1)The Authority shall pay, on behalf of a person serving in national civic service, National Insurance contributions pursuant to Chapter XV of the National Insurance Law [Consolidated Version], 5755-1995, and health insurance contributions pursuant to section 14 of the National Health Insurance Law, 5754-1994, except for a person serving in respect of whom the National Insurance Institute has notified that there is no liability for insurance contributions as aforesaid, during the period in which there is no such liability.
(d)Prior to the placement of a person serving in national civic service at an operating body, the Director shall ensure the existence of conditions that enable the person serving to maintain his ultra-Orthodox way of life, and for this purpose shall appoint an employee with an appropriate background and familiarity with the ultra-Orthodox way of life, whose function shall be to conduct the examinations required to ensure the foregoing, and to receive complaints and enquiries relating to the matter.
(e)A stipulation that derogates from the conditions of service pursuant to this section shall have no effect.
(f)Without derogating from the provisions pursuant to this section, the Director may direct regarding special cases that justify the absence of a person serving in national civic service during his service.
(g)An operating body may apply additional provisions regarding the conditions of service of a person serving in national civic service, provided that they do not derogate from the provisions pursuant to Section 16 and from an agreement as referred to in that section.
(h)
(1)Payments made pursuant to this Law to a person serving in national civic service, as well as payments made by the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration to a person serving in national civic service who is a new immigrant pursuant to the procedures of the Ministry, are not transferable, pledgeable or attachable in any manner, except for the payment of maintenance due from the person entitled to payments pursuant to a judgment of a court or a competent tribunal;
(2)The provisions of paragraph (1) shall also apply to payments as aforesaid that were made through a bank or the subsidiary company, as defined in the Postal Law, 5746-1986, when providing services pursuant to section 88a of that Law, for a period of 30 days from the day on which they were paid;
(3)Nothing in the provisions of paragraph (1) shall derogate from the right of the Authority or of the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, as the case may be, to set off against payments as referred to in that paragraph an amount that the person serving in national civic service owes to the Authority or to the said Ministry, as the case may be, pursuant to rules to be prescribed by the Minister; rules regarding payments of the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration shall be prescribed following consultation with the Minister of Aliyah and Integration;
(4)The Minister may prescribe that the provisions of this subsection shall also apply to subsistence payments made to a person serving in national civic service from a Government ministry not listed in paragraph (1); such Regulations shall be prescribed following consultation with the Minister responsible for the ministry concerned and with the approval of the Labour and Welfare Committee of the Knesset.
Powers and Disciplinary Law§
9.
(a)A person serving in civil-security service in the Israel Police shall be vested with the powers of a police officer, subject to the provisions of section 49h1 of the Police Ordinance [New Version], 5731-1971, and the disciplinary law applicable to a police officer pursuant to that section shall apply to him.
(b)A person serving in civil-security service in the Israel Prison Service shall be vested with the powers of a prison officer, subject to the provisions of section 92a of the Prisons Ordinance [New Version], 5732-1971, and the disciplinary law applicable to a prison officer pursuant to that section shall apply to him.
(c)A person serving in civil-security service in the National Fire and Rescue Authority shall be vested with the powers of a volunteer, subject to the provisions of section 20a of the National Fire and Rescue Authority Law, 5772-2012, and the disciplinary law applicable to a volunteer pursuant to that section shall apply to him.
(d)The Minister for Environmental Protection may authorise a person serving in civil-security service who is serving in the Green Police and the Sea and Shores Division in the Ministry of Environmental Protection as an inspector, who shall be vested with the powers pursuant to section 5 of the Environmental Protection Law, subject to the provisions of Chapter III-A of the Environmental Protection Law, and the disciplinary law pursuant to that Chapter shall apply to him.
(e)Nothing in the provisions of this section shall derogate from the provisions of section 6(b) and (c).
Service Training§
10.
(a)A person serving in national civic service shall undergo appropriate training for service pursuant to the provisions of this section (in this Law – service training); the Authority is responsible for providing service training.
(b)The Director shall issue instructions regarding service training programmes, in the fields to be prescribed by the Minister, and may issue instructions regarding the times at which they are to be delivered during the period of service.
(c)The period of service training shall be counted as part of the period of service.
(d)The Minister may prescribe provisions and conditions regarding service training, including provisions regarding the education, professional training, experience and criminal record of those engaged in providing training, as well as provisions regarding the facilities, classrooms and equipment required for providing training.
Special Training§
11.
(a)An operating body that operates a person serving in national civic service in roles requiring special training is responsible for ensuring that he undergoes such training, in addition to the service training pursuant to Section 10.
(b)The period of special training shall be counted as part of the period of service, except in special cases as the Director shall direct.
(c)A person serving in civil-security service shall not serve in a role requiring the exercise of powers under law unless he has received appropriate training in the area of the powers that will be vested in him within the framework of his service and the qualifications required for the conferral of such powers have been fulfilled in his case, all pursuant to the discretion of the operating body.
Certificate of Completion of Service§
12.
Where the Director has found, after receiving the opinion of the operating body, that a person serving in national civic service has completed the period of service in accordance with the provisions of Section 7 and has fulfilled all the conditions of service pursuant to this Law –
(1)the Director or a person authorised by him for that purpose shall issue to him a certificate attesting that he has completed his service as aforesaid;
(2)the Authority shall notify him of the rights to which he will be entitled upon the completion of his service.
(3)The Authority shall notify the commanding officer of the completion of service of the person serving in national civic service;
(4)The Minister of Defence shall exempt him, by Order, from the obligation of regular service.
Publication Regarding Rights upon Completion of Service§
13.
The Authority shall publish on its website the rights to which a person who has completed national civic service is entitled.
Operation of Persons Serving in National Civic Service by reason of a Decision on a State of Emergency§
13a.
The provisions of section 20 of the Civic Service Law, regarding the operation of volunteers by reason of a decision on a state of emergency, shall also apply to the operation of persons serving in national civic service, with the necessary modifications.
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חוק שירות לאומי-אזרחי, תשע"ד-2014
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