| School-leaving age |
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156. According to section 1 of the Compulsory
Education Law 1949, education is compulsory for children and
youth up to age 15 inclusive. As a rule, secondary education
over the age of 16, although not compulsory, is provided free
until age 18, and education for people with special needs (as
defined in the Special Education Law 1977) is provided free
until age 21. Under the Apprenticeship Law 1953, being an
apprentice is also thought to constitute compulsory education (as defined by section 2A(a) of the
Compulsory Education Law 1949). Youth who do not attend an education framework
that is under the surveillance of the Ministry of
Education thus still have the right to a basket of services
under section 6 of the Compulsory Education Law 1949 (see Chapter IX). |
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| Minimum age of employment |
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157. […] Section 2 of the Youth Employment
Law 1953 generally forbids the employment of children who have
not yet reached the age of 15 or who are subject to compulsory
education under the Compulsory Education Law 1949. […] In
effect, it is usually permissible to employ a minor from the
age of 16.
158. Under section 2 of the Youth Employment Law 1953 it is
permissible to employ a child who has reached the age of 15
and who works as an apprentice under the Apprenticeship Law
1953; a child age 15 who has completed his compulsory
education; and a child age 14 whose employment has been approved by
the Minister of Labor and who has been excused
from compulsory education. Employers of youths of compulsory school age are required
to release them to attend school, without debiting their salary, during
school days and hours. Failure to fulfill this obligation is a
criminal offense (under section 4(c) of the Compulsory Education Law 1949). Children
who have not yet reached the age of 14 may
work during official school vacations in light jobs that do
not endanger their health or development (section
2A of the Youth Employment Law 1953). Under
section 4 of the Youth Employment Law 1953, the Minister
of Labor and Social Affairs may permit the
employment of children under the age of 15 in artistic productions
or advertising photographs, for a limited time.
[…]
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| Minimum age for marriage |
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160. The Marriage Age Law 1950 stipulates
that the minimum age of marriage, for men and women, is 17.
According to section 2 of the law, it is a criminal offense to
marry a young man or woman who has not reached the age of 17,
or to assist in conducting the marriage of such young men and
women. The young man or woman does not commit an offense under
the law if he or she marries prior to reaching age 17, unless
his or her partner has also not reached the age of 17.
161. According to section 5 of the law,
Family Court is authorized to permit the marriage of a young
woman if she has conceived or given birth to a child by the
man whom she wishes to marry, and may permit the marriage of a
young man if the woman whom he wishes to marry has conceived
or given birth to his child. Under certain circumstances, the
court may permit the marriage if the young man or woman have
reached the age of 16. Circumstances that invoke the court’s
leniency are the desire of the youths and their parents for
the marriage, ethnic customs, economic considerations, and
extensive preparations for marriage (see Civil Appeal 50/81
Attorney General v. Anonymous Defendant, P.D. 35(4)
430; Civil Appeal 690/77 Hanifam v. State of Israel,
P.D. 42(1) 531).
162. According to Jewish religious law
(halacha), which in Israel confers validity on the
marriage of Jews conducted within its borders, it is possible
to marry a girl of any age, but the girl herself may decide to
marry only when she has reached the age of 12 and a half. A
Jewish boy may be married from the age of 13, and he himself
may decide to marry at this age. According to Moslem law
(shari’a), a father may promise his daughter in
marriage from the age of nine, but a girl may decide to marry
only when she has reached the age of 17. A Moslem boy may be
married from the age of 12, and he himself may decide to marry
from the age of 18. According to the Christian law practiced
in Israel, a boy may marry from the age of 16 and a girl from
the age of 14. Under all of the religious laws reviewed, the
age of marriage of girls is younger than that of boys. In any
case, as noted, the criminal sanction against the marriage of children is stipulated in a Knesset
law, which also sets a uniform marriage age for boys and girls
of all religions. In reality, the marriage rate of young
men and women in Israel is very
low. |
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| Minimum age for criminal responsibility |
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165. Section 34F of the Penal Law 1977 stipulates that "an
individual is not criminally liable for an act he committed before reaching the age of 12 years". Nevertheless,
delinquent acts of children under age 12 may be
cause for initiating tortious proceedings under the Youth (Care and Supervision) Law 1960.
Minors who have not reached the age of 13 will
be prosecuted only in consultation with
a probation officer (see section 12 of the Youth
(Trial, Punishment and Modes of Treatment) Law
1971). |
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