Israeli Legislation.com
LawCriminal Law

Police Law, 5766-2006

חוק המשטרה, תשס"ו-2006

Published: 2006-01-01Last amended 2026-06-15✓ Amendment status checked against the Knesset legislation record on 2026-09-29
Premium
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

This English text was translated from the official Hebrew using a range of translation tools, and it undergoes ongoing checks and updates. It is not a certified translation.

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.

Chapter I: Interpretation

Definitions§

1.

In this Law –

"tribunal" – a disciplinary tribunal or an appeals tribunal established pursuant to the provisions of Chapter II;

"single adjudicator" – an adjudication officer or a senior adjudication officer;

"the Ordinance" – the Police Ordinance [New Version], 5731-1971;

"Security Service Law" – the Security Service Law [Consolidated Version], 5746-1986;

"military serviceperson" – as defined in the Security Service Law;

"military serviceperson on reserve service" – a military serviceperson fulfilling his obligation for reserve service in the Border Guard of the Israel Police pursuant to the Reserve Service Law, 5768-2008;

"military serviceperson on regular service" – a military serviceperson fulfilling his obligation for regular service in the Israel Police pursuant to the Security Service Law;

"person serving in civilian-security service" – a person serving in the Israel Police in civilian-security service as defined in the National-Civic Service Law, 5774-2014;

"disciplinary offence" – as defined in section 5;

"Evidence Ordinance" – the Evidence Ordinance [New Version], 5731-1971;

"adjudication officer" – one of the following, provided that he has been qualified to serve as an adjudication officer pursuant to Israel Police orders:

(1)a police officer of the rank of Chief Superintendent and above who is not a senior adjudication officer;
(2)a police officer of the rank of Superintendent whom the Inspector General has authorised therefor in writing;
(3)for the purpose of adjudicating a military serviceperson on reserve service – also a police officer of the rank of Inspector whom the Inspector General has authorised therefor in writing;

"senior adjudication officer" – a police officer of the rank of Deputy Commissioner and above;

"the Minister" – the Minister for Public Security.

Interpretation§

2.

Every other term in this Law shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the Ordinance.

Need to cite this law in a foreign court?

Eli Shimony Israeli Attorneys-at-Law provides certified Expert Legal Opinions on Israeli law within 24–48 hours, accepted by courts worldwide.

Contact Us →

Chapter II: Disciplinary Law

Section A: General Provisions

Definitions§
3.

In this Chapter –

"omission" – a refraining from an act that is a duty under any law or under any other instruction given by law;

"act" – including an omission;

"officer" – including a military serviceperson on reserve service whilst on service, or a military serviceperson on regular service;

"prosecutor" – a police officer appointed to serve as prosecutor pursuant to the provisions of section 27.

Application of disciplinary law§
4.

An officer is subject to disciplinary law pursuant to this Chapter.

Disciplinary offence§
5.

A disciplinary offence is an offence that harms good order and discipline, and that is listed in the First Schedule.

Bringing disciplinary charges§
6.

The bringing of disciplinary charges against an officer in respect of a disciplinary offence, before a tribunal or before a single adjudicator, shall be in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter.

Territorial application§
7.

Disciplinary law shall apply even if the disciplinary offence was committed, in whole or in part, outside the territory of Israel; for this purpose, "territory of Israel" – as defined in section 7(c) of the Penal Law, 5737-1977 (in this Law – the Penal Law).

Mental element in disciplinary offences§
8.
(a)An officer commits a disciplinary offence even if he acted with negligence, unless otherwise provided in the definition of the offence under this Law.
(b)In this section, "negligence" – unawareness of the nature of the act, the existence of the circumstances or the possibility of causing the consequences of the act, which are among the elements of the disciplinary offence, where a reasonable officer could, in the circumstances of the matter, have been aware of that element, provided –
(1)that in respect of the remaining elements there was at least negligence as aforesaid;
(2)that the possibility of causing the consequences was not within the bounds of reasonable risk.
Evidence and procedure§
9.
(a)The laws of evidence applicable in courts shall not apply to disciplinary proceedings under this Chapter, unless otherwise stated in this Chapter.
(b)The Minister, with the approval of the National Security Committee of the Knesset, shall prescribe the rules of procedure, including the rules for the service of documents, according to which disciplinary proceedings under this Chapter shall be conducted and managed, as well as provisions regarding travel and accommodation expenses and loss-of-time allowances for witnesses, fees for expert witnesses, and payment for public representatives.
(c)In any matter of evidence and procedure in respect of which no provisions have been prescribed under this Chapter, the presiding adjudicator shall act in the manner that appears to him to be best for the doing of justice, provided that he gives reasons for his decision in this regard.
No double disciplinary liability§
10.

An officer shall not be tried under disciplinary law for an act of which he was acquitted or for which he was convicted under disciplinary law, pursuant to this Chapter or pursuant to the Ordinance as worded on the eve of the commencement of this Law.

Disciplinary adjudication in addition to criminal trial§
11.

An officer's liability in respect of a disciplinary offence does not derogate from his criminal liability in respect of an act, and disciplinary proceedings may be instituted against him, even if he has been convicted or acquitted in respect of the act by a court.

Disciplinary proceedings and criminal proceedings§
12.
(a)Where an indictment has been filed against an officer before a disciplinary tribunal or a complaint has been filed before a single adjudicator, and an indictment has also been filed against the officer in respect of the same act before a court for a criminal offence, or the Attorney General has given notice of his intention to file such an indictment, the disciplinary proceedings shall be stayed, notwithstanding the provisions of section 11, until the conclusion of the criminal proceedings; and the same shall apply if the indictment or the complaint was filed against the officer after the filing of the indictment before the court for the criminal offence.
(b)
(1)Subject to paragraph (2), where the criminal proceedings have concluded or the Attorney General has given notice that he has withdrawn his intention to file an indictment before a court for a criminal offence, the disciplinary tribunal or the single adjudicator, as the case may be, shall continue the disciplinary proceedings;
(2)The disciplinary proceedings shall not be continued if, from the day on which the indictment was filed before a court for a criminal offence or from the day on which the Attorney General gave notice of his intention to file such an indictment, the limitation period referred to in section 15(a)(1) or (2), as the case may be, has elapsed, unless the Inspector General has ordered the continuation of the disciplinary proceedings for special reasons that shall be recorded.
(c)The provisions of subsection (a) shall not apply if one of the following has occurred:
(1)The officer against whom the indictment was filed before the disciplinary tribunal or the complaint before the single adjudicator has agreed to be tried under disciplinary law before the conclusion of the criminal proceedings against him;
(2)The disciplinary tribunal or the single adjudicator, as the case may be, has decided, on the application of the Attorney General, that the circumstances of the case require the continuation of the disciplinary proceedings notwithstanding that the criminal proceedings have not yet concluded.
Disciplinary adjudication under another enactment§
13.

Where an officer belongs to members of a profession subject to disciplinary adjudication under another enactment, he may be tried under disciplinary law pursuant to this Chapter even if he has already been tried for the same act under the other enactment, and he may likewise be tried under the other enactment even if he has already been tried pursuant to this Chapter.

Disciplinary proceedings against a person who has ceased to be an officer§
14.
(a)A person who committed a disciplinary offence while an officer and who, after committing the offence, ceased to be an officer, shall not be tried under disciplinary law, unless he was brought to disciplinary trial, for reasons that shall be recorded –
(1)before a disciplinary tribunal – within 180 days from the day on which he ceased to be an officer;
(2)before a single adjudicator – within 90 days from the day on which he ceased to be an officer.
(b)Where the circumstances set out in subsection (a) apply to an officer who is a military serviceperson on reserve service, such an officer shall not be tried under disciplinary law except whilst on service, and if brought to disciplinary trial – within 90 days from the day on which he ceased to be a military serviceperson on reserve service.
(c)Where an officer has been brought to disciplinary trial and, before the proceedings in his matter have concluded, he has ceased to be an officer, the proceedings shall be discontinued unless the tribunal or the single adjudicator, as the case may be, has decided, for reasons that shall be recorded, on its own initiative or at the request of a party, to continue the proceedings, provided that from the day on which the last proceeding was held there have not yet elapsed –
(1)before a tribunal – 90 days;
(2)before a single adjudicator – 45 days.
Limitation of offences§
15.
(a)An officer shall not be brought to disciplinary trial after the following limitation periods have elapsed from the day of commission of the disciplinary offence:
(1)before a disciplinary tribunal – three years;
(2)before a single adjudicator – one year.
(b)Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), where an inquiry, examination or investigation in connection with a disciplinary offence was conducted within the periods referred to in subsection (a), as the case may be, the running of the limitation periods in respect thereof, as referred to in that subsection, shall commence on the day of the last step of the inquiry, examination or investigation.
(b1)Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), the Head of the Human Resources Division of the Israel Police or a person whom he has authorised for this purpose may permit an officer to be brought to trial before a single adjudicator, even if the period referred to in subsection (a)(2) has elapsed, including where the limitation period has been extended as referred to in subsection (b), in special circumstances that shall be recorded, provided that the period referred to in subsection (a)(1) has not elapsed.
(c)Where an indictment has been filed before a disciplinary tribunal or a complaint has been filed before a single adjudicator within the periods referred to in subsection (a) or (b), as the case may be, and the hearing before the disciplinary tribunal has not commenced – within three years from the day of filing of the indictment, or before the single adjudicator – within one year from the day of filing of the complaint, the proceedings against the officer shall be discontinued; and the same shall apply if a break occurred in the hearing of the proceeding before the disciplinary tribunal or the single adjudicator for a period exceeding the said periods, as the case may be.
Limitation of punishments§
16.

A punishment imposed under disciplinary law that has not begun to be executed shall not be executed, and if execution has commenced and has been discontinued, it shall not be continued –

(1)in respect of a punishment imposed by a tribunal – if one year has elapsed from the day on which the judgment became final or from the day on which execution of the punishment was discontinued, as the case may be;
(2)in respect of a punishment imposed by a single adjudicator – if six months have elapsed from the day on which the ruling became final or from the day on which execution of the punishment was discontinued, as the case may be.
Independence§
17.

In matters of adjudication under this Chapter, the presiding adjudicator is subject to no authority other than the authority of the law, and in such matters he is not subject to the authority of his commanders.

Public hearings§
18.
(a)A hearing before a tribunal shall be conducted in open session.
(b)Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) –
(1)the Inspector General may order, before the hearing, for reasons that shall be recorded, that the hearing, in whole or in part, be conducted in closed session, if he finds that this is necessary in order to prevent harm to state security or to the operational methods of the Police;
(2)a tribunal may order, at any stage of the hearing, for reasons that shall be recorded, that the hearing, in whole or in part, be conducted in closed session, if it finds that this is necessary for the reasons set out in paragraph (1), or if it sees a need therefor in one of the following:
(a)in order to prevent harm to a person's well-being;
(b)in order to protect the interests of a minor or a helpless person as defined in section 368a of the Penal Law;
(c)in order to protect the interests of a complainant or an accused in a sex offence or in an offence under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment Law, 5758-1998;
(d)the public hearing is liable to deter a witness from testifying freely or from testifying at all.
(c)Where the Inspector General or a tribunal, pursuant to its authority under the provisions of subsection (b), has decided that the hearing be conducted in closed session, it may permit a person or a group of persons to be present during the hearing, in whole or in part.
Prohibition of publication§
19.
(a)
(1)No person shall publish anything concerning a hearing conducted before a tribunal in closed session except with the permission of the tribunal, and if it was the Inspector General who ordered, pursuant to the provisions of section 18(b)(1), that the hearing be conducted in closed session – the tribunal shall not permit such publication unless the Inspector General's position on the matter has been brought before it;
(2)Where the hearing referred to in paragraph (1) has concluded, the Inspector General, if he ordered that the hearing be conducted in closed session pursuant to the provisions of section 18(b)(1), or the President of the tribunal, if the tribunal gave such an order pursuant to the provisions of section 18(b)(2), may permit publication if he sees that there is no longer any impediment to doing so.
(b)
(1)Where a hearing was conducted, in whole or in part, in open session, the tribunal may prohibit any publication in connection with the hearing, including the name of the complainant, documents submitted to the tribunal, the record of the hearing, the verdict or the sentence, all where it sees that this is necessary in order to prevent harm to state security, to a person's well-being or to the operational methods of the Police;
(2)Where the hearing referred to in paragraph (1) has concluded, the President of the tribunal may permit publication if he sees that there is no longer any impediment to doing so.
(c)A person who publishes anything the publication of which has been prohibited pursuant to the provisions of this section is liable to imprisonment for six months.
(d)Jurisdiction to try an offence under this section vests in the Magistrate's Court.
Disruption of proceedings§
20.
(a)A tribunal may order the removal from the tribunal's hall, during the hearing, of any of the following:
(1)a person who disrupts the proceedings of the tribunal or who conducts himself in a manner that harms the dignity of the tribunal; the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to a person who is subject in the same matter to disciplinary adjudication pursuant to the Bar Association Law, 5721-1961, and who is present in the tribunal's hall in the course of his duties;
(2)a person whose presence, in the opinion of the tribunal, is liable to deter a witness from testifying freely or from testifying at all.
(b)Where the tribunal has so ordered as referred to in subsection (a), it may permit the use of reasonable force for the purpose of carrying out the removal, if it finds that this is required, provided that it has warned the person ordered to be removed that it intends to do so.
(c)Where the tribunal has ordered, pursuant to the provisions of subsection (a), the removal of a party to the proceedings, the proceedings shall be brought to his knowledge in the manner directed by the tribunal.
Contempt of Tribunal§
21.
(a)A tribunal hearing a matter within its jurisdiction may impose a fine at the rate set out in subsection (c) on a person in respect of whom one of the following applies, whether or not that person is a police officer:
(1)the person was lawfully summoned to the tribunal and did not appear or left before receiving permission to do so, and did not show sufficient reason for the absence or departure;
(2)the person was lawfully required by the tribunal to produce a document in the person's possession and did not produce it without lawful justification;
(3)while acting as a witness before the tribunal, the person did not answer a question that the person was lawfully required to answer, or knowingly gave an evasive answer without lawful justification.
(b)A tribunal may impose a fine on a person pursuant to the provisions of subsection (a) even in that person's absence.
(c)A fine imposed pursuant to subsection (a) shall not exceed one half of the amount referred to in section 40(2) of the Penal Law, 5737-1977, and shall be collected in the manner in which a fine imposed by a court in criminal proceedings is collected.
(d)A decision of a disciplinary tribunal pursuant to subsection (a) may be appealed before the appeals tribunal.
Production Order§
22.
(a)Where a defendant, a respondent, or a person summoned to testify before a tribunal has failed to appear, or has failed to produce a document before the tribunal if ordered to do so, the tribunal may, if satisfied that the person refrained from appearing or from producing the document without reasonable justification, order that the person be brought before the tribunal at a time to be specified in the Order, provided that the tribunal has warned the person of its intention to do so.
(b)The provisions of section 73a of the Courts Law [Consolidated Version], 5744-1984, shall apply, with the necessary modifications, to a production Order issued under this section.
Continuity of Proceedings§
23.

So long as the taking of evidence has not commenced, a disciplinary tribunal may adjourn the date of commencement or the continuation of the proceedings; once the taking of evidence has commenced, the proceedings shall continue without interruption, to the extent possible.

Early Taking of Testimony§
24.
(a)Where an indictment has been submitted to a disciplinary tribunal and the proceedings have not yet commenced, the tribunal may, on the application of a party, take the testimony of a person forthwith, if it is satisfied that the testimony is important for the determination of the charge and that there is reasonable ground to assume that it will not be possible to take the testimony in the course of the proceedings; where an inquiry, examination or investigation into a disciplinary offence has commenced but an indictment has not yet been submitted, the president of the disciplinary tribunal may do so on the application of a prosecutor or of a police officer who may become a defendant in the offence.
(b)Testimony referred to in subsection (a) shall be taken in the presence of a prosecutor and in the presence of the defendant or the person who may become a defendant, unless the tribunal or the president of the tribunal, as the case may be, has decided, for special reasons to be recorded, to take the testimony in the absence of the defendant or the person who may become a defendant.
Rank of Judge§
25.

No judge whose rank is lower than the rank of the defendant shall sit in a tribunal.

President of the Tribunal§
26.
(a)If the president of the tribunal is sitting in the proceedings, the president shall be the presiding judge of the tribunal; if the president of the tribunal is not sitting in the proceedings, the most senior in rank shall be the presiding judge of the tribunal, and if there is no person more senior in rank, the presiding judge of the tribunal shall be appointed by the president of the tribunal.
(b)The presiding judge of the tribunal shall conduct the proceedings at the sittings of the tribunal and may give any direction necessary to maintain order at the place of the proceedings.
Appointment of Prosecutor§
27.
(a)The Inspector General or a person authorised by the Inspector General for that purpose shall appoint a lawyer who is a police officer of a rank to be determined in Israel Police orders, to serve as prosecutor before the disciplinary tribunal, and as respondent or appellant before the appeals tribunal or before the District Court, as the case may be, and to represent the Inspector General therein.
(b)Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), the Inspector General or a person authorised by the Inspector General for that purpose may appoint an articled clerk in the last six months of the articling period, who is a police officer of a rank to be determined in Israel Police orders, to serve as prosecutor before the disciplinary tribunal, provided that the supervisor is present at the tribunal or that the tribunal has permitted the articled clerk to continue the representation even in the absence of the supervisor.
Disqualification of a Judge or Single Adjudicator§
28.
(a)A judge or single adjudicator shall disqualify himself or herself from sitting in the proceedings, on the judge's or single adjudicator's own initiative or on a reasoned application by a defendant, prosecutor, appellant or respondent, if the judge or single adjudicator considers that there exist circumstances capable of giving rise to a real concern of bias in the conduct of the proceedings, or that there exist other reasons justifying doing so.
(b)Where a plea of disqualification is raised against a judge or single adjudicator, the tribunal or the single adjudicator, as the case may be, shall decide on it before giving any other decision.
(c)
(1)Where a single adjudicator decides to disqualify himself or herself from sitting in the proceedings, the proceedings shall be transferred to another single adjudicator; where a single adjudicator decides not to disqualify himself or herself from sitting in the proceedings, the single adjudicator shall set out the reasons therefor in the decision;
(2)Where the Inspector General decides to disqualify himself or herself from sitting in the proceedings in the matter of a defendant of the rank of Deputy Commissioner and above, the proceedings shall, notwithstanding the provisions of section 32, be transferred to a Major General or a judge who has retired and has been appointed by the Minister for that purpose.
(d)Where a judge decides to disqualify himself or herself from sitting in the proceedings, another judge shall be appointed in place of that judge; where a judge of a disciplinary tribunal decides not to disqualify himself or herself, a party may appeal against the refusal before the president of the appeals tribunal in the manner to be determined in Israel Police orders; where a judge of an appeals tribunal decides not to disqualify himself or herself, a party may appeal against the refusal before the president of an appeals tribunal who has retired and has been appointed by the Inspector General for that purpose.
Replacement of a Person Sitting in Disciplinary Proceedings§
28a.
(a)Where a judge sitting in disciplinary proceedings in a tribunal, or a single adjudicator, has died, or where the appointment of such judge or single adjudicator has been cancelled or has expired, or where the judge or single adjudicator is prevented for any other reason from sitting in the proceedings, another judge or single adjudicator, as the case may be, shall be appointed in place of that judge or single adjudicator.
(b)The tribunal in its new composition, or the single adjudicator, may continue the proceedings from the stage at which the predecessor left off; however, if the defendant objects to the continuation of the proceedings as aforesaid, the tribunal or the single adjudicator shall conduct the proceedings from the beginning, unless the tribunal or single adjudicator considers, for reasons to be recorded, that the continuation of the proceedings as aforesaid is required in the interests of justice.
Termination of Office of a Judge or Single Adjudicator§
28b.
(a)The Inspector General may remove a judge from the list of judges that the Inspector General has determined pursuant to the provisions of section 44, if the judge has been convicted of an offence or if an investigation is being conducted against the judge, after giving the judge an opportunity to be heard; however, such a determination with respect to a member of the tribunal who is not a police officer shall be within the authority of the Minister; where a judge sitting in disciplinary proceedings has been removed from the list of judges as aforesaid, the appointment of that judge in the proceedings being conducted before the tribunal shall be cancelled.
(b)Where a person sitting in disciplinary proceedings in a tribunal is a police officer who has ceased to be a police officer, the appointment shall expire; however, the president of the tribunal may permit that person to complete proceedings in a matter that has commenced; if the president of the tribunal decides to do so, the appointment shall expire upon the conclusion of the proceedings.
(c)Where the president of the tribunal or the single adjudicator has ceased to be a police officer, the appointment shall expire; however, the Inspector General may permit that person to complete proceedings in a matter that has commenced; if the Inspector General decides to do so, the appointment shall expire upon the conclusion of the proceedings.
Silence of a Defendant§
29.

A defendant's refraining from testifying may serve to reinforce the weight of the prosecution's evidence, as well as to corroborate the prosecution's evidence where the tribunal considers that such corroboration is required.

Admissibility of a Statement§
30.

A statement made by a defendant in disciplinary proceedings shall not serve as evidence against that defendant in criminal proceedings.

Judgment in Criminal Proceedings§
31.

The findings and conclusions of a final judgment in criminal proceedings conducted against a police officer shall be deemed to be proven in disciplinary proceedings against that police officer.

Need to cite this law in a foreign court?

Eli Shimony Israeli Attorneys-at-Law provides certified Expert Legal Opinions on Israeli law within 24–48 hours, accepted by courts worldwide.

Contact Us →
←123456 →

Page 1 of 6

Read the entire law on one page — continuous text, no page breaks, plus PDF downloads.

LawCriminal Law

חוק המשטרה, תשס"ו-2006

Police Law 2006

Police Law 5766

Chok HaMishtara

Israeli Police Law

Police regulation Israel

law enforcement Israel

police authority Israel

police powers Israel

Israeli policing statute