Israel Passes Law Sanctioning Force-Feeding Prisoners

Israel’s parliament passed a contentious law on Thursday that would permit the force-feeding of inmates on hunger strike, eliciting harsh criticism over the practice
Israel Passes Law Sanctioning Force-Feeding Prisoners
The Associated Press
Updated:

JERUSALEM—Israel’s parliament passed a contentious law on Thursday that would permit the force-feeding of inmates on hunger strike, eliciting harsh criticism over the practice.

The law allows a judge to sanction the force-feeding or administration of medical treatment if there is a threat to the inmate’s life, even if the prisoner refuses. It passed with a 46-40 vote in favor — a slender margin in the 120-seat Knesset. The remaining lawmakers were sent from the early morning vote.