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Israel Bans Genetic Cloning
Israel's parliament has passed legislation that bans cloning humans for the next five years.
By Sari Bashi, Associated Press
Start Date: 12/30/98
JERUSALEM -- Israel's parliament has passed legislation that bans cloning humans for the next five years and monitors genetic research, the sponsor of the bill said on December 30, 1998.
The law, passed Dec 29, allows genetic intervention for medical purposes, such as cloning a healthy organ for donation. Researchers wishing to conduct experiments in human genetics must show an advisory committee that their research does not violate the ban, an infraction punishable by two years in prison.
"Human cloning endangers humanity as seriously as nuclear weapons," said Labor Party legislator Hagai Merom. "That also began as an experiment but later became a weapon of mass destruction."
The committee will report yearly to the science minister to reassess whether the outlawed research harms human dignity.
Merom said doctors, researchers, legislators, philosophers and religious leaders discussed the issue for 18 months before agreeing to the five-year moratorium. In 2003, parliament will decide whether to renew the ban.
Unlike Christian leaders who have called for a ban on human cloning, Israel's Chief Rabbinate has said Jewish law does not necessarily rule it out.
[Disclaimer: This article is copyright (c) The Associated Press. The information contained in AP news reports may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. This text is posted in the public interest.]
 Excelsior, Michael Lindemann's new novel (written under the pen name Michael Paul), depicts a wholly plausible near future in which human cloning is both widespread and widely abused; terrorists have access to target-specific biological weapons; recreational space travel is commonplace; and mounting pressures of global climate change, environmental decline, population growth and civil unrest inspire radical new approaches to urban security.
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