Penal Law, 5737-1977

[Amendment: 5760-5 | see also: [g/1(a), (b)]]

A man who lives with a prostitute, or who habitually accompanies her, or who exercises control or influence over her in a manner capable of assisting or compelling her to engage in prostitution, is presumed to be living on her earnings, unless the contrary is proved.

[Amendment: [5733], 5740-7, 5760-5 | see also: [g/2]]

A person who causes another person to engage in an act of prostitution with yet another person is liable to five years' imprisonment.

[Amendment: 5760-5 | see also: [g/3]]

A person who causes another person to engage in prostitution is liable to seven years' imprisonment.

[Amendment: 5760-5 | see also: [g/4]]

[Amendment: 5760-5, 5763-6, 5767]

[(Repealed).]

[Amendment: 5760-5, 5767]

[Amendment: 5760-5, 5777, 5779-4]

A person who obtains an act of prostitution from a minor is liable to five years' imprisonment.

[Amendment: 5760-5]

A person who claims that he did not know the age of the person against whom, or with respect to whom, an offence under this Division was committed bears the burden of proof; this provision shall not apply with respect to an offence under Section 214(b3).

A person who keeps or manages premises, including a motor vehicle or a vessel, for the purpose of engaging in prostitution, is liable to five years' imprisonment.

[Amendment: 5760-5 | see also: [g/6, g/7]]

A person who lets or renews the letting of premises, including a motor vehicle or a vessel, knowing that they serve or will serve a person as a place for acts of prostitution, is liable to six months' imprisonment; the same applies where such person did not terminate the letting of the premises after learning that they are being used as aforesaid, notwithstanding that he had the right to terminate the letting and to claim possession thereof on that ground.

[Amendment: 5758-2, 5771-2]

A person who provides information or publishes a publication concerning the provision of a prostitution service where the service provider is a minor is liable to five years' imprisonment or a fine as specified in Section 61(a)(4), and if the offence was committed by a corporation — double the said fine; for the purposes of an offence under this Section, it is immaterial whether the prostitution service is provided in Israel or outside Israel, whether the information relates to a specific minor or not, or whether the publication indicates that the service provider is a minor or not.

[Amendment: 5758-2, 5771-2]

[(Repealed).]

[Amendment: 5758-2, 5771-2]

[Amendment: 5778-3]

A person who publishes a publication concerning an offer to engage in prostitution is liable to three years' imprisonment or a fine as specified in Section 61(a)(4), and if the offer to engage in prostitution is directed at a minor — five years' imprisonment or the said fine; where the offence was committed by a corporation, it is liable to double the said fine.

[Amendment: 5742-4, 5760-5 | see also: [g/8]]

[(Repealed).]

[Amendment: 5760-5 | see also: [g/10]]

[(Repealed).]

[Amendment: [5726], 5760-5 | see also: [a/165]]

A person who allows a minor between the ages of two and seventeen years who is in his custody or supervision to reside in a brothel or to frequent it habitually is liable to three years' imprisonment.

[Amendment: [5726], 5760-5 | see also: [a/167]]

[(Repealed).]

[Amendment: [5726], 5760-5 | see also: [a/168]]

[(Repealed).]

[Amendment: 5760-5 | see also: [a/169]]

[(Repealed).]

[Amendment: 5740-7 | see also: [a/171]]

[(Repealed).]

[Amendment: 5740-7 | see also: [a/172]]

[(Repealed).]

[Amendment: [5726], 5751-5, 5758-2, 5767-3, 5775 | see also: [a/179]]

[Amendment: 5751]

"Offensive publication" — any of the following:

"Billboards" — advertising signs erected alongside roads, advertising signs inside public transport buses or on their exterior sides, or at bus stops of such buses, as well as advertising signs on notice boards under the supervision of a local authority.

[Amendment: 5758-2, 5771-2, 5775, 5778-3]

A person shall not be regarded as committing an offence under Sections 205a, 205c, 205d, and 214 if the provision of information, the publication, the possession, or the consumption was done for a legitimate purpose, including for the purpose of accurate and fair reporting on a matter dealt with in this Division, provided that the provision of information, the publication, the possession, or the consumption is not prohibited under any other law and was not done in order to encourage acts that are prohibited under this Division.

[Amendment: [1975]|other=[a/189]]

[Amendment: [1946], [1966], 1978-5, 1980-7, 2025|other=[a/193]]

A person who is not a soldier or police officer and who wears military or police uniform, or dress resembling such uniform, or dress bearing a badge distinctive of a soldier or police officer, in a manner and in circumstances likely to bring contempt upon such uniform, or who employs another person to do any of these acts, is liable to imprisonment of three months.

[Amendment: [1944], 1980-7|other=[a/195]]

One who negligently does an act likely to spread a disease that is life-threatening is liable to imprisonment of three years; if the act was done wilfully, the person is liable to imprisonment of seven years.

[Amendment: [1966]|other=[a/197]]

A retailer of food or drink commodities, or a manager of a hotel, inn, restaurant or other business for the sale of food and drink for consumption on the premises, who fails to maintain the cleanliness of the commodities he supplies, or who contravenes a regulation relating to public health, is liable to imprisonment of six months; the court convicting the offender may order the destruction of food or drink commodities that are unfit for use as nourishment.

[Amendment: [1966]|other=[a/198]]

One who muddies or pollutes the waters of a spring, tank, reservoir or any other place, thereby rendering them less suitable for the purpose for which they ordinarily serve, is liable to imprisonment of three years.

One who wilfully pollutes the air and thereby renders it harmful, generally, to the health of persons residing or carrying on business in the vicinity, or of those passing along a public road, is liable to imprisonment of three years.

One who, for his own purposes, creates a loud noise or disperses offensive or harmful odours, in a place and in circumstances that disturb persons in their exercise of public rights, is liable to imprisonment of one year.

[Amendment: [5727] | other=[9/1]]

In this Division –

"prohibited game" – a game in which a person may win money, money's worth or a benefit according to the outcome of the game, and the outcome depends on chance more than on understanding or skill;

"place of prohibited games" – premises where prohibited games are customarily conducted, whether open to the public or open only to certain persons, and it is immaterial whether they are also maintained for another purpose;

"lottery" – any arrangement under which it is possible, by drawing lots or by another means, to win money, money's worth or a benefit, and the winning depends on chance more than on understanding or skill;

"gambling" – any arrangement under which it is possible to win money, money's worth or a benefit, and the winning depends on the prediction of a matter, including a lottery connected with the results of games and sporting competitions.

[Amendment: [5735], 5763-2 | other=[9/2]]

One who organises or conducts a prohibited game, lottery or gambling, is liable – to imprisonment of three years or double the fine referred to in Section 61(a)(4).

[Amendment: [5735], 5763-2 | other=[9/3]]

One who plays a prohibited game is liable – to imprisonment of one year or the fine referred to in Section 61(a)(2).

[Amendment: 5763-2 | other=[9/4]]

One who offers, sells or distributes tickets, or any other thing, intended to evidence the right to participate in a lottery or gambling, as well as one who prints or publishes a notice of a lottery or gambling, is liable – to imprisonment of one year or double the fine referred to in Section 61(a)(3).

[Amendment: [5735], 5763-2, 5776-5 | other=[9/5]]

One who possesses or manages a place of prohibited games, or a place for conducting lotteries or gambling, is liable – to imprisonment of three years or double the fine referred to in Section 61(a)(4); one who lets premises or permits their use with knowledge that they will serve as a place for prohibited games or for conducting lotteries or gambling, is liable – to imprisonment of six months or double the fine referred to in Section 61(a)(3).

[Amendment: [5735], 5760-2, 5765-5, 5776-5 | other=[9/5a]]

[(Repealed).]

The provisions of Sections 225 to 228 shall not apply to a game, lottery or gambling in which all three of the following conditions are met:

[Amendment: [5727], 5768 | other=[9/7]]

[Amendment: 5768]

In a trial for an offence in respect of a prohibited game under this Division –

For the purposes of this Division – and without detracting from any other means of proof –

Where a person has been convicted of an offence under this Division, the court may order that tools, instruments or any other thing that served for the conduct of the game, lottery or gambling be forfeited to the State Treasury, and it is immaterial whether the accused is the owner thereof or not.

[Amendment: [5727] | other=[9/10a]]