Basic Law: Freedom of Occupation חוק יסוד: חופש העיסוק

Key provisions

• Every Israeli national or resident has the right to engage in any occupation, profession, or trade
• Restrictions allowed only by a law befitting the values of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, for a proper purpose, and to a proportionate extent
• Section 8 permits an expressly overriding law passed by at least 61 MKs. Its normal four-year expiry does not apply to laws enacted within the first year of this Basic Law.
• Protected from emergency regulations

Context

First enacted in 1992 and replaced in 1994. The replacement introduced the override provision, used for legislation restricting imports of non-kosher meat; a 1998 amendment removed that law's four-year expiry.

Notable amendments

• 1994: Wholly re-enacted with the override clause
• 1998: Extended override-law validity