The Knesset approves Biometric Database Law
The second and third readings of the controversial law promoted by Interior Minister Aryeh Deri pass in the Knesset, which entails that every citizen issued an ID card or passport will be obligated to join the database and provide a picture; adding a fingerprint will be optional.
39 MKs were in support of the third reading versus 29 who opposed it.
The bill proposal institutes amendments prior to the its application to all citizens. According to the proposal, the biometric database will include facial images only and ID cards and passports of all citizens will be valid for five years, unless the Minister orders a longer validity period.
As things are currently standing, a person may opt out of the fingerprints’ database. Those whose fingerprints are not in the database, however, will be issued an ID card and a passport that are valid for five years only, whereas those included in the database will get the aforementioned documents for 10 years.
Among other things, it was decided that the fingerprints of minors under the age of 16 will not be stored and until regulations are approved in the Knesset, the police cannot use the database at all.
The law was passed after a heated debate in the preparatory committee during which the bill amendment was approved by a majority of six versus five.
During the discussion, many Knesset members, including those from the coalition factions, claimed the debate had not been completed and expressed opposition to the law in its current form.
