Knesset passes law allowing employers to access data on applicant’s terror convictions

By Sam Sokol 24 February 2026, 2:57 pm

Edit

Sam Sokol is a former political correspondent at The Times of Israel. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"

Likud MK Nissim Vaturi speaks during a conference at the Reichman University in Herzliya, on January 22, 2026. (Tal Gal/Flash90)

Knesset lawmakers vote 21-7 overnight to pass a law allowing a prospective employer, with the written consent of a job candidate, to request that police disclose whether the applicant had a criminal record for terror offenses.

The law, sponsored by Likud MK Nissim Vaturi, only allows the employer to be given confirmation of such a record but does not allow for the sharing of information about any offenses.

It also only applies to offenses committed as an adult and that have not passed the statute of limitations. The employer is required to allow the applicant to provide context regarding such a record before making a final hiring decision and is prohibited from sharing any information received.

According to the law’s explanatory notes, it “allows private employers to find out whether job candidates have a criminal record for terrorist offenses.”