The Knesset Health Committee on Wednesday, voted to approve stricter no smoking regulations. The new regulations become law in 30 days.

According to new regulations smokers will not be permitted to smoke at bus stops, within 10 meters of entrances of a hospital and/or health clinic, stairwells, and in taxis. The committee did not approve the request to ban smoking in stadiums and amphitheaters as well as rejecting the request to ban smoking in courtyards of matnas community centers.

The new regulations also set a maximum smoking area in restaurants to 15 square meters. In wedding halls this area may not exceed 25 square meters.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)