חוק לפינוי שדות מוקשים (תיקון), התשע"ט-2019Law on Clearance of Mined Fields (Amendment), 2019 · automatic translation · suggest a correction

Official summary of the law (Knesset)

The Mine Clearance Law (Amendment – Temporary Provision), 2019 was passed in its second and third readings on 25 December 2018. The Law expands the powers of the Mine Clearance Authority at the Ministry of Defense (hereinafter – the Authority). Until the amendment, the Authority was authorized to deal only with minefields and anti-personnel mines. With the Law's approval, its authority was expanded to also handle ordnance debris areas, as well as anti-tank minefields. Ordnance debris areas, as defined in the Law, are areas used by the IDF and the defense establishment for training, experiments and burial of ammunition remnants. These areas therefore pose a danger to the public, and their presence in certain regions prevents land development for civilian uses. Clearing of ordnance debris areas will be carried out in accordance with the mechanisms established in the Law regarding minefields: clearance will be performed by civilian companies with expertise in mine clearance, supervised by civilian companies with supervisory expertise, all in accordance with the Authority's guidelines and procedures. Funding for clearing ordnance debris areas will come from two sources: first, it is determined that the annual Budget Bill will include a budget for clearing ordnance debris areas, in addition to the dedicated budget for minefield clearance and without harming that activity. In addition, the Authority will be authorized to collect clearance fees from parties interested in developing the land. Furthermore, to expedite clearance activity and reduce costs, the Law allows the Authority to conduct a preliminary survey of the area, according to rules it will establish and in accordance with international criteria, and if no debris is found, the area may be released without the need to engage clearance companies. It is also determined that the plan prepared by the Authority for clearing ordnance debris areas will include criteria that take into account the location of the debris areas, their scope, and the complexity of their clearance. The annual report submitted to the Committee will also include details of the funding methods for minefields and ordnance debris areas, broken down geographically. An additional arrangement in the Law allows the police to receive assistance from the Authority for clearing missile and rocket debris following extreme combat events. The Law was established as a temporary provision for three years, in order to allow examination and monitoring of its implementation and to ensure that clearance of ordnance debris areas is also carried out in the periphery, and not only in places where there are economic interests in clearance.

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