Israel

The law prohibits smoking in specified indoor public places and workplaces. In other indoor public places and workplaces, smoking is restricted to designated smoking rooms fitted with separate ventilation. The law also contains a provision specific to workplaces which permits smoking in designated smoking rooms that are fitted with ventilation; that smoking therein does not constitute a nuisance in other parts of the workplace; and that no one works in the room, or no persons are present in the room who are non-smokers.

To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should require all parts of all indoor public places and workplaces to be 100% smoke free.

The law prohibits smoking in many indoor public places, but allows designated smoking areas in other indoor public places, including stadiums, restaurants, theaters, and universities, among others.

To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should require all parts of all indoor public places and workplaces to be 100% smoke free.

The law prohibits smoking in many means of public transport, including taxis, trains, and buses, but does not regulate smoking in other means of public transport, such as watercraft. Therefore, the regulatory status code “Smoking is Restricted” is given for the category of "all public transport."

To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should require all parts of all enclosed public transport to be 100% smoke free.

The law prohibits smoking in all places in government offices.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines with respect to government facilities.

In a place of work, smoking is restricted to designated smoking rooms that are fitted with ventilation; that smoking therein does not constitute a nuisance in other parts of the workplace; and that no one works in the room, or no persons are present in the room who are non-smokers.

To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should prohibit smoking in all indoor workplaces, including private offices.

The law prohibits smoking in hospitals, including “in the area of the entrance or exit of the building in a range of 10 meters from the door.”

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines with respect to hospitals.

Generally, smoking is prohibited in hospitals and clinic buildings. In addition, the law generally prohibits smoking in “an old age home or a protected living house,” but permits a separate room to be allocated for smoking. Any designated smoking room must have appropriate ventilation and must not serve as a nuisance to other parts of the location.

To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should prohibit smoking in all parts of residential healthcare facilities, including public areas.

The law prohibits smoking in clinic buildings as a whole and in parts of pharmacies that are open to the public. This is interpreted as prohibiting smoking in non-residential healthcare facilities.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines with respect to non-residential healthcare facilities.

The law prohibits smoking in kindergartens, preschools, daycare centers, and children’s homes. In addition, the law generally prohibits smoking in any location in an educational institution, including the courtyard and within 10 meters of the entrances and exits.

Although the law generally permits designated smoking rooms in workplaces, the definition of “place of work” specifically requires that the place does not serve for residential purposes. Therefore, even if childcare is provided within someone’s home, it is likely that a separate area may not be set aside for smoking even though it serves as a workplace for some because the premises would most likely be considered a “place of work” under the law.

Together, these provisions prohibit smoking in all childcare facilities and preschools. The law aligns with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines with respect to childcare facilities and preschools.

The law prohibits smoking generally in any location in an educational institution, including the courtyard, student dormitories, and within 10 meters of the entrances and exits. While the law permits smoking in designated rooms in certain post-secondary educational facilities, these places do not include primary and secondary schools. Therefore, smoking is prohibited in all primary and secondary schools.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines with respect to primary and secondary schools.

The law prohibits smoking generally in buildings serving as an institution of higher learning or post-secondary educational institution whose students are over the age of 18, including student residential buildings. However, the law permits separate rooms to be designated by management for smoking, as well as residential rooms to be designated as smoking rooms if only smokers reside there. Any designated smoking room must have appropriate ventilation and must not serve as a nuisance to other parts of the location.

Note that management and staff rooms are subject to the requirements set forth in Sec. 15 of the Addendum, which governs workplaces. Section 15 permits smoking in designated rooms in workplaces.

To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, smoking should be prohibited in all parts of universities and vocational facilities.

The law prohibits smoking in retail stores, but permits designated smoking rooms to be set aside in malls. Any designated smoking room must have appropriate ventilation and must not serve as a nuisance to other parts of the location. Because designated smoking rooms are permitted in some types of shops, the regulatory status code “Smoking is Restricted” has been assigned.

To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should prohibit smoking in all shops, including shopping malls.

The law prohibits smoking entirely in several types of cultural facilities and restricts smoking in several others. Smoking is prohibited entirely in cultural facilities related to youth. Pursuant to a December 2012 court decision, smoking is prohibited by actors on stage during a performance. The law permits designated smoking rooms to be set aside in cinemas, theaters, and conference facilities during performance intermissions; banqueting halls; and events parks, provided that the total area set aside for smoking does not exceed one fourth of the area open to the public in any of these places. In addition, designated smoking places or areas are permitted in reading halls or reading rooms in public libraries. Any designated smoking room must have appropriate ventilation and must not serve as a nuisance to other parts of the location.

To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should prohibit smoking in all types of cultural facilities.

The law prohibits smoking in “a room or hall” that is open to the public for physical activity or sport, including indoor swimming pools. However, in sports stadiums, the law permits management to designate areas for smoking. Management can either designate a separate area of seats for smoking, provided that the number of seats in that area does not exceed one quarter of the total number of seats, or designate a separate room whose area does not exceed one quarter of the area allocated as a public waiting area. Any designated smoking room must have appropriate ventilation and must not serve as a nuisance to other parts of the location.

To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should prohibit smoking in all parts of indoor stadiums and arenas.

The law restricts smoking to designated smoking rooms in restaurants and similar eating places (e.g., cafeterias, coffee shops). The area allocated for smoking may not exceed one fourth of the area open to the public. In addition, a designated smoking room must have appropriate ventilation and must not serve as a nuisance to other parts of the location.

To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should prohibit smoking in all parts of restaurants.

The law restricts smoking to designated smoking areas in eating places or drinking places, including bars, clubs, and discotheques. The area allocated for smoking may not exceed one fourth of the area open to the public. In addition, a designated smoking room must have appropriate ventilation and must not serve as a nuisance to other parts of the location.

To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should prohibit smoking in all parts of bars, pubs, and nightclubs.

The law permits designated smoking rooms in workplaces. Casinos meet the definition of “place of work” under the law. Any designated smoking room must have appropriate ventilation and must not serve as a nuisance to other parts of the location.

To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should prohibit smoking in all parts of all indoor public places and workplaces, including casinos.

The law does not address hotels and lodging facilities specifically. Under the law, designated smoking rooms are permitted in workplaces. However, it is unlikely that hotels are considered “places of work” under the law, as that term is defined as “any place in a building in which people work and which does not serve for residential purposes.” Because hotels don’t meet the definition of “places of work” and no other provision of the law directly addresses smoking in hotels, the law is interpreted as permitting smoking in public areas of hotels and lodging facilities.

To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should prohibit smoking in all parts of all indoor public places and workplaces, including public areas of hotels and lodging facilities.

The law does not address hotels and lodging specifically. Under the law, designated smoking rooms are permitted in workplaces. However, it is unlikely that hotels are considered “places of work” under the law, as that term is defined as “any place in a building in which people work and which does not serve for residential purposes.” Because hotels don’t meet the definition of “places of work” and no other provision of the law directly addresses smoking in hotels, the law is interpreted as permitting smoking in guest rooms in hotels and lodging facilities.

To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should prohibit smoking in all parts of all indoor public places and workplaces, including public areas of hotels and lodging facilities.

Smoking is permitted in designated smoking rooms in facilities operated by the Israel Prison Service. Any designated smoking room must have appropriate ventilation and must not serve as a nuisance to other parts of the location.

To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should prohibit smoking in prisons, including in public areas.

The law prohibits smoking in omnibuses, minibuses, and railway trains, including local railway trains.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines with respect to shared ground transportation.

The law specifically prohibits smoking in taxis when carrying passengers.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines with respect to taxis.

It is uncertain whether smoking is prohibited in commercial aircraft.

To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should prohibit smoking in all commercial aircraft.

Smoking on commercial watercraft is not addressed in the Prevention of Smoking and Exposure to Smoking in Public Places Law, 1983. Further, no other law appears to prohibit or address smoking aboard commercial watercraft. Therefore, the law is interpreted as permitting smoking aboard commercial watercraft.

To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should require all parts of all public transport, including commercial watercraft, to be 100% smoke free.

The law restricts, but does not prohibit, smoking at public transport facilities. At covered bus stops and railways stations, including station platforms, smoking is prohibited except in designated smoking rooms. Any designated smoking room must have appropriate ventilation and must not serve as a nuisance to other parts of the location. The law does not address public transport facilities beyond covered bus stops and railway stations. Therefore, the regulatory status of smoking in these places is uncertain.

To align with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines, the law should prohibit smoking in all parts of public transport facilities of all types.

The law prohibits smoking in elevators that carry people.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines with respect to prohibiting smoking in elevators.

The law prohibits smoking in a vehicle that is being used to teach driving when a student driver is in the vehicle.

This is in line with FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines para. 26, which states that “[p]rotection should be provided in vehicles used as places of work.”

The law prohibits smoking in public bomb shelters and other public shelters as defined in Civil Defense Law.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines with respect to prohibiting smoking in these indoor places.

The law prohibits smoking in all indoor parts of synagogues, churches, Muslim prayer halls, and mosques. Smoking is permitted only in designated portions of outdoor courtyards.

The law aligns with FCTC Art. 8 and the FCTC Art. 8 Guidelines with respect to prohibiting smoking in these indoor places.