LGBTQ EQUALITY LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE - In Memory of Major Sagi Golan

Photo by Talmoryair, CC BY 3.0

Recognizing LGBTQ Hate Crime Victims Currently, Israeli law does not recognize victims of hate crimes, nor are they entitled to compensation or various state remedies. The state must take responsibility for all hate crimes directed at any individual, whether motivated by racial, religious, ethnic, or LGBTQ bias. The defining feature of a hate crime is the motive, which is rooted in the victim’s identity and their belonging to a specific group characterized by religion, color, ethnicity, sectarian affiliation, sexual orientation, or gender identity. For example, not every offense against an ultra-Orthodox person is considered a hate crime. Still, if the offense is committed because the person is ultra-Orthodox, it is classified as a hate crime. According to the Israeli Penal Code, a hate crime is punishable by either double the fixed penalty for the committed offense or ten years in prison, whichever is lesser.

Anna Shilansky, who was injured in the Bar-Noar (LGBTQ Youth Center) shooting attack: “They didn’t target me because I am Anna, nor did they harm my friends from the Bar-Noar and the Jerusalem Pride because they are Noam, Gal, or Yoni. We were attacked because we were in a place where someone wanted to send a message to our community, aiming to force us back into the closet, regardless of who the specific victims were; it could have been anyone. The state failed to protect us, but it can acknowledge our suffering and help us rebuild our lives.”

Required Action Approval of the 2022 Compensation Bill for Victims of Hate Crimes will establish a mechanism for supporting and compensating hate crime victims through the National Insurance Institute, which the Minister of Welfare will oversee.

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