MK (Machane Tzioni) Micky Rosenthal is authoring a bill that would halt the ‘spam’ phone calls so many residents receive, many or perhaps most by NGOs raising money and politicians and political parties.

The Spam Bill aims to halt these calls, making it illegal to phone people for fundraising if they have not given approval in advance. A number of years ago such a law passed prohibiting sending text messages by commercial companies. The law was then amended to prohibit commercial companies from calling. Those in violation may be fined NIS 1,000 per illegal phone call or message.

Rosenthal feels the law should be amended again, this time to include NGOs and politicians to prevent them from ‘harassing’ citizens without their consent. He points out the politicians use phone calls to reach constituents, especially during elections.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)