Reporting Steps
Racism is an affront to human dignity — and in some cases a criminal offence. Incitement to racism is an offence under **section 144B of the Penal Code**, carrying up to five years' imprisonment. Discrimination in providing a service or in admission to a public place is prohibited by the **Prohibition of Discrimination in Products, Services and Entry to Places of Entertainment and Public Places Law, 2000**, and the Basic Law: Human Dignity and Liberty is the constitutional framework.
What counts as racism? Racism includes statements, writing, demonstrations, videos, harassment, exclusion from public spaces, and discriminatory service — all based on ethnic origin, nationality, skin colour, or religion.
Step 1 — Immediate documentation Document the incident immediately: date, time, exact location, witness names (if any), and any information about the perpetrator. If it is a video on social media — take a screenshot before it is removed. Do not delete anything.
Step 2 — Filing a complaint You may file a criminal complaint with the Israel Police — for example incitement to racism (s.144B of the Penal Code), or assault and threats with a racist motive. File at a police station or through the government website. In parallel you can bring a **civil claim** under the 2000 anti-discrimination act — see "Legal protection" below.
Step 3 — Contact support organisations Tebeka — a rights organisation for the Ethiopian community — offers free legal advice and support in filing complaints. The Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) handles cases of systemic discrimination and can accompany you throughout the process.
Legal protection **Section 5 of the 2000 anti-discrimination act** allows a claim for damages **without proving damage** — up to ₪50,000, index-linked (October 2000 base). For racism by an employer, the Equal Opportunity in Employment Act (1988) allows recourse to the labour court. An employee who exposed offences at work is protected from dismissal and from harm to their conditions under the **Protection of Employees (Exposure of Offences of Unethical Conduct and Improper Administration) Law, 1997**.
Sources: [Penal Code s.144B](https://www.nevo.co.il/law_html/law01/073_002.htm) · [anti-discrimination act](https://www.nevo.co.il/law_html/law00/74365.htm) · [protection of employees](https://www.nevo.co.il/law_html/law00/71697.htm) · verified September 2026.
Last reviewed: September 2, 2026