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Penal Law, 5737-1977

חוק העונשין, תשל"ז-1977

Published: 1977-08-04Consolidated Hebrew text as of 2026-07-02 · Last amended 2026-06-30✓ Amendment status checked against the Knesset legislation record on 2026-09-28
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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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Despite these checks, it may contain errors, omissions, or imprecise renderings of legal terminology and cross-references, and it may not yet reflect the latest amendments. It cannot be relied upon as a legal text.

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.

This translation is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For use in legal proceedings, request a certified Expert Legal Opinion.

Section D: Endangering Life and Health

Deprivation of Power of Resistance for the Purpose of Committing an Offence [a/233] [5726]§
327.

A person who deprives or attempts to deprive another of his power of resistance, by means that endanger a person's life or health or that are capable of impairing his sobriety, with intent to commit a felony or misdemeanour or to facilitate the commission thereof or to facilitate the escape of an offender after their commission or after an attempt to commit them, is liable to imprisonment for twenty years.

328.§

(Repealed — תש״ם־7)

Wounding with Aggravated Intent [a/235] [5726]§
329.
(a)A person who does any of the following with intent to cause a person a disability or disfigurement, or to cause that person grievous bodily harm, or to resist lawful arrest or detention of himself or another, or to prevent such arrest or detention, is liable to imprisonment for twenty years:
(1)unlawfully wounds or causes grievous bodily harm to a person;
(2)unlawfully attempts to injure a person with a bullet, knife, stone, or other dangerous or offensive weapon;
(3)unlawfully causes the explosion of an explosive substance;
(4)sends or delivers to a person any explosive substance or any other dangerous or harmful thing, or causes a person to receive any such substance or thing;
(5)places, in any place, any corrosive, explosive, or caustic liquid;
(6)throws at a person any substance or liquid referred to in paragraph (5), or applies it to that person's body in any other manner.
(b)A person who commits an offence under subsection (a) against a family member shall not receive a sentence of less than one-fifth of the maximum penalty prescribed for the offence, unless the court has decided, for special reasons to be recorded, to impose a lighter sentence; in this subsection, "family member" — as defined in section 382(b).
(c)A sentence of imprisonment under subsection (b) shall not, in the absence of special reasons, be wholly suspended.
Attempt to Cause Bodily Harm by Explosive Substance [a/239]§
330.

A person who unlawfully places an explosive substance in any place with intent to cause bodily harm to another is liable to imprisonment for fourteen years.

Prevention of Rescue from a Vessel in Distress [a/236] [5726]§
331.

A person who unlawfully prevents or obstructs another in that person's efforts to save his own life or the life of another when that person is on a vessel in distress or a wrecked vessel, or when escaping from such a vessel, is liable to imprisonment for ten years.

Wilful Endangerment of Lives of Persons on a Transport Route§
332.

A person who does any of the following with intent to harm a passenger on a transport route or in a vehicle or to endanger that person's safety is liable to imprisonment for twenty years:

(1)places anything on the transport route or vehicle;
(2)interferes with a transport route or vehicle, or with anything on or near them, in a manner capable of impairing the free and safe use of the transport route or vehicle or the safety of such a passenger, or capable of endangering such use or safety;
(3)(deleted)
(4)shows a light or signal on or near the transport route or vehicle, or interferes in any manner with any existing light or signal there;
(5)endangers the safety of such a passenger by refraining from doing an act that that person is under a duty to do.
Throwing or Shooting a Stone or Other Object at a Moving Vehicle§
332a.
(a)A person who throws or shoots a stone or other object at a moving vehicle in a manner capable of endangering the safety of a passenger in the vehicle or of a person in the vicinity of the vehicle, or capable of causing damage to the vehicle in circumstances capable of arousing fear or panic, is liable to imprisonment for ten years.
(b)A person who throws or shoots a stone or other object at a moving vehicle in a manner capable of endangering the safety of a passenger in the vehicle or of a person in the vicinity of the vehicle, with the purpose of harming a passenger or a person in such vicinity, is liable to imprisonment for twenty years.
(c)(Expired)
Grievous Bodily Harm [a/238]§
333.

A person who unlawfully causes grievous bodily harm to another is liable to imprisonment for seven years.

Wounding [a/241(a)]§
334.

A person who unlawfully wounds another is liable to imprisonment for three years.

Bodily Harm and Wounding in Aggravating Circumstances [a/251a] [5733]§
335.
(a)Where an offence under section 333 or section 334 is committed —
(1)while the offender carries a firearm or a cold weapon, the offender is liable to double the penalty prescribed for the offence;
(2)when two or more persons who have joined together to carry out the act by one or more of them are present, each of them is liable to double the penalty prescribed for the offence.
(a1)A person who commits an offence under section 333 against a family member is liable to imprisonment for ten years.
(b)A person who commits an offence under section 334 against a family member is liable to double the penalty prescribed for the offence; for the purposes of this section, "family member" — including a person who was formerly a family member, being one of the following:
(1)that person's spouse, including a person publicly known as that person's spouse;
(2)a minor or helpless person for whom the offender is responsible, as "responsible for a minor or helpless person" is defined in section 368a.
Use of Dangerous Poison [a/240, 241(b)]§
336.

A person who unlawfully causes poison or any other harmful substance to be administered to or taken by a person, with intent to harm that person or another or to annoy them, is liable to imprisonment for three years; if that person thereby endangered the life of the person or caused that person grievous bodily harm, that person is liable to imprisonment for fourteen years.

Breach of Duty of Parent or Person Responsible§
337.

A person who, without lawful justification, breaches his duty to provide another person with subsistence needs or to care for that person's health and to prevent abuse of that person, bodily harm to that person, or any other harm to that person's welfare and health, and thereby endangers or is likely to endanger that person's life, or causes or is likely to cause permanent harm to that person's health, is liable to imprisonment for three years.

Acts of Recklessness and Negligence [a/243]§
338.
(a)A person who does any of the following in a rash or negligent manner capable of endangering a person's life or causing that person bodily harm is liable to imprisonment for three years:
(1)drives a vehicle or rides on a public road;
(2)operates a vessel or aircraft or participates in their operation;
(3)does an act involving fire or a flammable, explosive, or radioactive substance, or fails to take precautions against a foreseeable danger connected with fire or such a substance in his possession;
(4)does an act in connection with machinery under his supervision, his alone or together with others, or fails to take appropriate precautions against a foreseeable danger connected with such machinery;
(5)does an act in connection with explosive material or a firearm in his possession, or fails to take appropriate precautions against a foreseeable danger connected therewith;
(6)fails to take precautions against a foreseeable danger connected with an animal in his possession;
(7)gives medical or surgical treatment to a person whom that person undertook to treat;
(8)sells, supplies, gives, or administers a drug or a poisonous or dangerous substance;
(9)uses, possesses, or abandons a poisonous or dangerous substance, or abandons a container that held such a substance and that is capable of poisoning or endangering.
(b)(Repealed)
Neglect of the Custody of Firearms and Dangerous Substances [a/243a] [5725]§
339.
(a)A person who keeps, leaves, or abandons a firearm, explosive material, or any other substance capable of causing harm to a person or of endangering that person's life, without taking reasonable precautions to prevent another person from using them to cause harm to himself or to another, whether by any handling of them or without handling, is liable to imprisonment for one year.
(b)This section shall not apply to a person who keeps, leaves, or abandons such items and who is subject to military jurisdiction under the Military Justice Law, 5715-1955, in a place that is a military camp or in which military operations are being conducted, or in the course of training within the framework of the military; however, it shall apply to an instructor as referred to in section 5b(b) of the Firearms Law, 5709-1949, and in section 22(2)(c) of the Explosives Materials Law, 5714-1954.
Danger to Children [a/243b] [5725]§
340.

A person who leaves or abandons a thing in a place to which children have access, and there is reasonable ground to suppose that children will play with the thing or otherwise handle it and that in so doing they are liable to suffer harm to their health or to endanger their lives, and who fails to take reasonable precautions to prevent such consequences, is liable to imprisonment for one year.

Shooting from a Firearm§
340a.
(a)A person who unlawfully shoots from a firearm is liable to imprisonment for two years.
(b)A person who unlawfully shoots from a firearm in any of the following circumstances is liable to imprisonment for five years:
(1)in a residential area, or in another place where the shooting is capable of endangering a person's life;
(2)in a manner capable of endangering a person's life.
Negligent Bodily Harm [a/244] [5726]§
341.

A person who does an unlawful act, or refrains from doing an act that that person is under a duty to do, where the act or omission is not among those enumerated in sections 338 to 340, and bodily harm to a person is caused thereby, is liable to imprisonment for one year.

Misleading Transport§
342.

One who lights a light or displays a signal or buoy with intent to mislead a person operating a vehicle or knowing that they are liable to mislead such person, is liable to seven years' imprisonment.

Transporting a Person in a Dangerous Vehicle§
343.

One who knowingly or through negligence transports a person or causes that person to be transported in a vehicle when there is concern for the safety of the passenger owing to the condition or load of the vehicle, is liable to three years' imprisonment; if the vehicle was an aircraft, he is liable to five years' imprisonment.

Endangering Roads and Waterways [a/247] [5726]§
344.

One who does an act or fails to take reasonable care in respect of property in his possession or under his supervision and thereby causes danger, obstruction or damage to a person on a public road or on a public waterway, is liable to three years' imprisonment.

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Section E: Sexual Offences

Rape§
345.
(a)One who penetrates the body of a woman or man in any of the following circumstances:
(1)without free consent;
(2)with consent obtained by deceit as to the identity of the perpetrator or the nature of the act;
(3)where the female minor or male minor has not yet reached the age of fourteen years, even with their consent; or
(4)by exploiting a state of unconsciousness in which the woman or man is present, or another state that prevents them from giving free consent;
(5)by exploiting the fact that the woman or man is mentally ill or intellectually impaired, if by reason of their illness or intellectual impairment their consent was not free consent;

commits rape and is liable to sixteen years' imprisonment.

(b)Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), the penalty for rape is twenty years' imprisonment if the rape was committed in any of the following circumstances:
(1)against a female minor or male minor who has not yet reached the age of sixteen years, and in the circumstances referred to in subsection (a)(1), (2), (4) or (5);
(2)by threat with a firearm or bladed weapon;
(3)by causing physical or mental harm or pregnancy;
(4)by abuse, before the act, during the act or after it;
(5)in the presence of another or others who joined together with him for the purpose of committing the rape by one or more of them.
(c)In this Section, "penetration" means the insertion of a limb or an object into the genitalia of a woman or into the anus of a person, or the insertion of a sexual organ into the mouth of a person.
Prohibited Penetration§
346.
(a)
(1)One who penetrates the body of a female minor or male minor who has reached the age of fourteen years and has not yet reached the age of sixteen years, or who penetrates the body of a female minor or male minor who has reached the age of sixteen years and has not yet reached the age of eighteen years, by exploiting relations of dependence, authority, education or supervision, or by a false promise of marriage, is liable to five years' imprisonment;
(2)for the purposes of this subsection, a mental health therapist who is a psychologist, psychiatrist or social worker, or one who impersonates any of these, who has penetrated the body of a female minor or male minor who has reached the age of sixteen years and has not yet reached the age of eighteen years, during the period in which mental health treatment was provided to the female minor or male minor by him, shall be deemed to have done the said act by exploiting relations of dependence; this presumption shall not apply if such acts commenced before the commencement of the mental health treatment in the context of a couple relationship.
(b)One who penetrates the body of a woman or man who has reached the age of eighteen years by exploiting authority in an employment or service relationship, or by reason of a false promise of marriage while presenting himself as single despite being married, is liable to three years' imprisonment.
347.§

(Repealed — תשפ״ה־4)

Sexual Relations between a Mental Health Therapist and a Patient§
347a.
(a)In this Section —

"mental health treatment" means diagnosis, assessment, counselling, treatment, rehabilitation, or the conducting of conversations, carried out on a continuous basis, by way of face-to-face meetings, in order to assist a person suffering from distress, disorder, illness or another problem of emotional or psychological origin;

"mental health therapist" means one who engages, or who presents himself as engaging, in providing mental health treatment, as a vocation or by virtue of a role.

(b)A mental health therapist who penetrates the body of a woman or man who has reached the age of eighteen years, during the period in which mental health treatment is provided to them by him and until the expiry of three years from the conclusion of such treatment, with consent obtained by exploiting a genuine psychological dependence on him originating in the mental health treatment provided to them by him, is liable to four years' imprisonment; for the purposes of this subsection, such acts carried out by a mental health therapist who is a psychologist, psychiatrist or social worker, or one who impersonates any of these, during the period in which the mental health treatment was provided, shall be deemed to have been carried out by exploiting genuine psychological dependence as aforesaid; this presumption shall not apply if the acts commenced before the commencement of the mental health treatment.
Sexual Relations between a Clergyman and a Person Who Received Counsel or Guidance from Him§
347b.
(a)In this Section —

"clergyman" means a clergyman, one who presents himself as such, or a person known or presenting himself as possessing special spiritual powers;

"counsel or guidance" means counsel or guidance provided on a continuous basis, by way of face-to-face meetings.

(b)A clergyman who penetrates the body of a woman or man who has reached the age of eighteen years, during the period in which counsel or guidance is provided to them by him or shortly thereafter, with consent obtained by exploiting a genuine psychological dependence on him originating in the counsel or guidance provided to them by him, is liable to four years' imprisonment.
Indecent Act§
348.
(a)One who performs an indecent act upon a person in any of the circumstances enumerated in section 345(a)(2) to (5), with the necessary modifications, is liable to seven years' imprisonment.
(b)One who performs an indecent act upon a person in any of the circumstances enumerated in section 345(b)(1) to (5), with the necessary modifications, is liable to ten years' imprisonment.
(c)One who performs an indecent act upon a person without that person's consent but not in the circumstances referred to in subsections (a), (b) or (c1), is liable to three years' imprisonment.
(c1)Where an offence under subsection (c) was committed with the use of force or the application of other means of pressure, or by threat of any of these, against the person or against another, the offender is liable to seven years' imprisonment.
(d)
(1)One who performs an indecent act upon a person who is a minor who has reached the age of fourteen years, by exploiting relations of dependence, authority, education, supervision, employment or service, is liable to four years' imprisonment;
(2)for the purposes of this subsection, a mental health therapist who is a psychologist, psychiatrist or social worker, or one who impersonates any of these, who performed an indecent act upon a person who has reached the age of fourteen years and has not yet reached the age of eighteen years, during the period in which mental health treatment was provided to that person by him, shall be deemed to have done the act by exploiting relations of dependence; this presumption shall not apply if the person has reached the age of sixteen years and the acts commenced before the commencement of the mental health treatment in the context of a couple relationship.
(d1)A mental health therapist who performs an indecent act upon a person who has reached the age of eighteen years in the circumstances set out in section 347a(b), is liable to three years' imprisonment.
(d2)A clergyman who performs an indecent act upon a person who has reached the age of eighteen years in the circumstances set out in section 347b(b), is liable to three years' imprisonment.
(e)One who performs an indecent act upon a person who has reached the age of eighteen years by exploiting authority in an employment or service relationship, is liable to two years' imprisonment.
(f)In this Section, "indecent act" means an act for the purpose of sexual arousal, gratification or degradation.
Indecent Act in Public§
349.
(a)One who performs an indecent act in public in the presence of another person without that person's consent, or who performs such an act in any place by exploiting relations of dependence, authority, education, supervision, employment or service, is liable to one year's imprisonment.
(b)One who performs, in any place, an indecent act in the presence of a person who has not yet reached the age of sixteen years, is liable to three years' imprisonment.
Causing an Act to Be Done§
350.

For the purposes of an offence under this Section, it is immaterial whether the perpetrator performed the act himself or caused the act to be done to himself or to another person.

Sexual Offences within the Family and by a Person Responsible for a Helpless Person§
351.
(a)One who commits the offence of rape under section 345(a) against a person who is a minor and is a member of that person's family, or against a person who is helpless and for whom he is responsible, is liable to twenty years' imprisonment.
(b)One who penetrates the body of a woman or man who has reached the age of fourteen years and has not yet reached the age of twenty-one years, and is a member of their family, is liable to sixteen years' imprisonment.
(c)One who performs an indecent act upon a person who is a minor and is a member of that person's family, or upon a person who is helpless and for whom he is responsible, is liable —
(1)for an offence under section 348(a) or (c1) — to ten years' imprisonment;
(2)for an offence under section 348(b) — to fifteen years' imprisonment;
(3)in any case not among those enumerated in paragraphs (1) and (2) — to five years' imprisonment.
(d)One who performs an indecent act in the presence of a person who is a minor, in any place, and is a member of that person's family, is liable to four years' imprisonment.
(d1)A person responsible for a helpless person who commits an offence under section 349(a) against the helpless person, is liable to two years' imprisonment.
(e)For the purposes of this section —

"foster parent" means one of the following:

(1)a father or mother in a foster family as defined in the Foster Care for Children Law, 5776-2016;
(2)a person responsible for a minor under paragraph (3) of the definition of "person responsible for a minor or helpless person" in section 368a;

"step-sibling" means a son or daughter of a parent's partner;

"person responsible for a helpless person" means as defined in the definition of "person responsible for a minor or helpless person" in section 368a;

"family member" —

(1)a parent; a parent's partner even if not married to the parent; a grandparent;
(2)a person who has reached the age of fifteen years and is one of the following: a brother or sister; a step-sibling; an uncle or aunt; a brother-in-law or sister-in-law; however, for the purposes of an offence of prohibited penetration under subsection (b) or an indecent act under subsection (c)(3) committed against a person who has reached the age of sixteen years, an uncle or aunt and a brother-in-law or sister-in-law shall not be included in the definition of "family member";
(3)a foster parent; a foster parent's partner even if not married to the foster parent; the father or mother of a foster parent;
(4)a person who has reached the age of fifteen years and is one of the following: a son or daughter of a foster parent and the partner of each of these; a brother or sister of a foster parent and the partner of each of these; however, for the purposes of an offence of prohibited penetration under subsection (b) or an indecent act under subsection (c)(3) committed against a person who has reached the age of sixteen years, the partner of a son or daughter of a foster parent, a brother or sister of a foster parent and the partner of each of these shall not be included in the definition of "family member";

"helpless person" means as defined in section 368a.

Prohibition on Publication§
352.
(a)One who publishes to the public the name of a person or any matter capable of identifying a person as one who was harmed by an offence or as one who complained that he was harmed by an offence under this Section, whether to the general public or to his immediate surroundings, or who hints at such identification, whether by publication of his voice, his image in whole or in part, his surroundings or images of those close to him, or in any other manner, is liable to one year's imprisonment.
(b)A person shall not bear criminal liability under subsection (a) if the person whose name or identity was published as aforesaid gave written consent to the publication, or if a court permitted the publication for special reasons that shall be recorded.
(c)One who photographs a person, by reason of that person being one who was harmed by an offence or one who complained that he was harmed by an offence under this Section, during surveillance or stalking liable to harass him, or during other harassment, including while waiting for that person at a court or police station, all without his prior consent, is liable to six months' imprisonment or half the fine referred to in section 61(a)(4); such consent shall be given in the case of an adult — in writing, and in the case of a minor — before a court.
(d)The provisions of this section shall not apply to publication or photography carried out by the police or on its behalf for the purposes of the investigation of offences, investigation of death or location of missing persons, where the publication or photography is essential for the purposes of such investigation or location.
Defence to Criminal Liability§
353.

In a charge for an offence under section 346(a), it shall be a defence for the accused that the difference in ages between him and the minor does not exceed three years, if the minor consented to the act and the act was done in the course of a normal friendship relationship and without exploitation of the accused's position.

Defence to Limitation of Sexual Offences against a Minor§
354.
(a)In respect of the offences enumerated in this subsection, committed against a minor, the running of the limitation period shall commence on the day the minor reaches the age of thirty-four years; however, if from the date of commission of the offence the period prescribed in respect thereof as referred to in section 9(a) or (a1) of the Criminal Procedure Law [Consolidated Version], 5742-1982, as the case may be, has elapsed — an indictment shall not be filed except with the approval of the Attorney General —
(1)an offence under section 351;
(2)an offence committed by the person responsible for the minor as defined in the definition of "person responsible for a minor or helpless person" in section 368a, who is not a family member as defined in the definition of "family member" in section 351(e), and it is one of the following offences:
(a)rape — under section 345;
(b)prohibited penetration — under section 346(a);
(c)(Repealed)
(d)indecent act — under section 348(a), (b), (c1) or (d).
(3)an offence from among those enumerated in paragraph (2) committed against a minor by a son or daughter of the minor's uncle or aunt who has reached the age of 15 years.
(a1)Where an indictment is filed, pursuant to subsection (a), following a complaint submitted to the police after the victim of the offence has reached the age of twenty-eight years, a person shall not be convicted on the basis of the sole testimony of the victim of the offence, unless there is in the evidence material corroborating it; where the indictment also includes an offence not as referred to in subsection (a), the provision of this subsection shall apply only in respect of an offence as referred to in subsection (a).
(b)The provisions of subsection (a) shall also apply to an act done before the 19th of Av 5750 (10 August 1990), provided that all of the following conditions are met:
(1)the act constituted an offence under this Section as worded at the time of its commission;
(2)had the act been done after the said date it would have constituted an offence under section 351;
(3)the offence had not yet become time-barred under section 9 of the Criminal Procedure Law [Consolidated Version], 5742-1982.
(c)
(1)In respect of the offences enumerated in this subsection, committed against a minor, by a person who has reached the age of fifteen years, who is not the person responsible for the minor as referred to in the definition of "person responsible for a minor or helpless person" in subsection (a)(2), a family member as defined in that subsection, or a son or daughter of the minor's uncle or aunt as referred to in subsection (a)(3), the running of the limitation period shall commence on the day the minor reaches the age of thirty-three years; however, if from the date of commission of the offence the period prescribed in respect thereof as referred to in subsection (a) has elapsed — an indictment shall not be filed except with the approval of the Attorney General;
(2)and these are the offences:
(a)rape — under section 345;
(b)(Repealed)
(c)indecent act — under section 348(a), (b) or (c1).
(d)Where an indictment is filed, pursuant to subsection (c), following a complaint submitted to the police after the period prescribed in respect thereof as referred to in subsection (a) has elapsed from the date of commission of the offence, or after the minor has reached the age of 18 years, whichever is the later, a person shall not be convicted on the basis of the sole testimony of the victim of the offence unless there is in the evidence material corroborating it; where the indictment also includes an offence not as referred to in subsection (c), the provision of this subsection shall apply only in respect of the offence as referred to in that subsection.
(e)The provisions of subsection (c) shall also apply to an offence that, on the date of entry into force of the Penal Law (Amendment No. 84), 5765-2005, had not yet become time-barred under section 9 of the Criminal Procedure Law [Consolidated Version], 5742-1982, pursuant to the law applicable to it on the eve of the said date.
(f)The provisions of subsections (a) and (c) shall also apply to an offence that, on the date of entry into force of the Penal Law (Amendment No. 155), 5786-2026, had not yet become time-barred under section 9 of the Criminal Procedure Law [Consolidated Version], 5742-1982, pursuant to the law applicable to it on the eve of the said date.
Minimum Sentence§
355.
(a)Where a person is convicted of an offence under sections 345, 348(a), (b) or (c1), or 351(a), (b) or (c)(1) or (2), his sentence shall not be less than one quarter of the maximum sentence prescribed for that offence, unless the court has decided, for special reasons that shall be recorded, to reduce his sentence.
(b)A sentence of imprisonment under subsection (a) shall not, in the absence of special reasons, be entirely suspended.
356.§

(Repealed — תשמ״ח־2)

357.§

(Repealed — תשמ״ח־2)

358.§

(Repealed — תשמ״ח־2)

359.§

(Repealed — תשמ״ח־2)

360.§

(Repealed — תשמ״ח־2)

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