Hadera Court Hands Down First Prison Term Under New Organized Crime Law
A Hadera court sentenced Baha Jaber to 21 months in prison for violating judicial restriction orders, marking a historic first under a 2024 law combating organized crime.
The Magistrate's Court in Hadera sentenced Baha Jaber to 21 months in prison for violating a judicial restriction order issued by the Haifa District Court. This ruling marks what is believed to be the first-ever sentence handed down under the Public Protection from Criminal Organizations Law, a newly enacted statute from 2024.
According to the court records, the defendant was convicted of three counts of breaching judicial restriction orders. In December 2025, the Haifa District Court had issued an order prohibiting Jaber from contacting specific individuals, using any vehicles, and accessing communication networks or the internet. The restrictions later became permanent.
The first charge detailed that on February 8, 2026, Jaber traveled by private car from the Caesarea area to Route 443 near Modi'in, in direct violation of the vehicle ban. Additional charges revealed that on January 16 and January 20, 2026, he used a smartphone application to conduct a video call and communicated with a prohibited individual, breaching the strict ban on internet and communication usage.
During the proceedings, the defense attorney argued that the legislation is unprecedented and draconian, functioning as a temporary two-year order that severely infringes upon fundamental human rights. The defense maintained that the violations were minor and lacked any independent criminal acts or threats to human life, characterizing the conversations as purely social and innocent.
Rejecting the defense's arguments, Deputy Court President Lizzie Freund emphasized the necessity of tangible punishment to deter organized crime and enforce respect for judicial rulings.
«A firm and uncompromising deterrent policy, including mandatory imprisonment behind bars, is essential to prevent criminal figures from showing blatant disregard for judicial restrictions,» Judge Freund stated.
In addition to the 21-month prison sentence, the court imposed a suspended prison term and a fine of 9,000 shekels.
