Arab rock throwing terrorists (file)
Arab rock throwing terrorists (file)Issam RImawi/Flash 90

As her first law proposal, Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked will seek a sharp increase in the punishments and penalties meted out to individuals convicted of rock throwing. Shaked plans to present the law to the Ministerial Law Committee next Sunday.

Currently, Israeli law differentiates between “protest” rock throwing and rocks thrown to cause damage or death. But, according to Shaked's proposal, penalties, including a jail sentence of ten years, would apply no matter what the thrower's supposed intent.

In documents filed in advance of the Committee discussion, Shaked said that the law as it currently stands is insufficient “and does not provide a proper response to the many incidents of rock throwing that may not contain a specific intent, but cause a great deal of damage."

“For example, when rocks are thrown during a riot, not all those participating in the riot may have a specific intent. The current maximum term for any case of rock throwing is 20 years, and that does not properly respond to the threat to the safety of individuals,” Shaked wrote, adding that the vast majority of rock throwers are given minimal punishments.

In addition, Shaked's proposal would expand the law against rock throwing to expand punishments for individuals who throw rocks at police or police vehicles. Such attacks would be subject to a special penalty and harsher punishments would be imposed.