An IDF soldier at the entrance to a Hamas tunnel. Israel’s new anti-terrorism legislation grants law enforcement agencies more tools to fight terrorism and terrorist organizations. Photo: Wikipedia.

JNS.org – Israel’s new anti-terrorism legislation will soon face its second and third Knesset readings after its final draft was approved by the Israeli legislature’s Constitution, Law and Justice Committee on Monday.

The bill grants law enforcement agencies, particularly the Shin Bet security agency and the Israel Police, more tools to fight terrorism and terrorist organizations. It includes articles meant to fight terrorism in a global age as well as amendments to existing terrorism-related offenses.

While Israeli law has previously required “clear and imminent probability” of actual acts of terror in order to criminalize incitement to terror, an amendment in the bill states that a “clear call to commit an act of terror” — regardless of the imminent probability of an attack — will constitute criminal incitement. The bill also breaks new ground by defining the digging of terror tunnels as a criminal offense, stating that “the digging of a tunnel or passageway meant to facilitate an offense or be used as a getaway route” is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.