Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday chaired a meeting of the Ministerial Committee on Violence against Women. The meeting was held a day after tens of thousands of protesters marched in major cities across Israel in protest of what they see as the government's inadequate response to domestic violence.
The protest was organized following last week's murder of two teenagers, which brought the number of women who were killed by spouses or relatives since the beginning of 2018 to 24.
"I think violence against women is like terrorism in every respect," Netanyahu said and pledged to fast-track a bill combating domestic violence, as well as harsher punishments for perpetrators.
The legislative proposal, sponsored by Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan and Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, aims to allow police to track convicted or suspected domestic abusers with GPS bracelets to ensure they comply with probation and bail restrictions.
This, among other measures, will help law enforcement and the courts combat violence against women, as well as provide them with the means to enhance abused women's sense of personal safety.
Organizers of Tuesday's protests want the government to implement a $67 million plan it promised last year to combat violence against women.
"Women should be protected and feel safe, and they shouldn't be afraid of retaliation by their abusers," Erdan said.
"Using a tracking device will allow for a quick and effective response aimed at protecting the victims of domestic violence at any given time. Moreover, it will afford them the freedom they deserve, as in any case of violation [by the abuser], the police will be able to intervene immediately," he said.
Shaked noted that "it's not abused women who should hide – their abusers are the ones who should be kept away and that is what this bill is about. This new technology will allow us to free these women from the shackles of violence."
