BASIC LAW: HUMAN DIGNITY AND LIBERTY
The law was passed on 17 March 1992 by the 12th Knesset. Sections of it were subsequently integrated into the 1994 version of Basic Law: Freedom of Occupation. In view of the fact that the Knesset was unsuccessful in its endeavors to enact Basic Law: Human Rights, in its entirety due to the opposition of the religious parties to some of its provisions, it was decided to enact those sections of the law on which there were no basic differences of opinion. Until the dissolution of the 13th Knesset, two basic laws were passed that will eventually constitute part of the complete law: Basic Law: Human Dignity and Liberty and Basic Law: Freedom of Occupation.Basic Law: Human Dignity and Liberty declares that basic human rights in Israel are based on recognition of the value of man, the sanctity of his life, and the fact that he is free. The goal of the law is "to defend Human Dignity and Liberty, in order to establish in a Basic Law the values of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state." The law defines human freedom in Israel as being the right to leave the country and enter it; to privacy and intimacy; to be protected from searches relating to one's private property, body, and possessions; and to avoid violations of the privacy of one's speech, writings, and notes. Violation of the dignity or freedom of man is permitted only in accordance with the law. The law includes an instruction regarding its permanence and protection from changes by means of emergency regulations: The purpose of this Basic Law is to protect human dignity and liberty, in order to establish in a Basic Law the values of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state. . . . There shall be no violation of the life, body or dignity of any person as such. . . . There shall be no violation of the property of a person. . . . All persons are entitled to protection of their life, body and dignity. . . . There shall be no deprivation or restriction of the liberty of a person by imprisonment, arrest, extradition or otherwise. . . . All governmental authorities are bound to respect the rights under this Basic Law.