Abortion in Israel: Terms of Termination

A 1977 law ensures a low-cost, and in some casesfree, legal abortion to any woman who fills one of four criteria:

She is under 18 or over 40 (cost to those inbetween: 1,500 shekels [$370]).
She is carrying a fetus with a serious mental orphysical defect (free).
She claims that the fetus results from forbiddenrelations such as rape or incest (free) or, in the case of a marriedwoman, that the baby is not her husband's (not free). Single womenalso fall under this clause, and they too must pay.
She shows that by continuing the pregnancy, herphysical or mental health would be damaged (free).

In 1980, a fifth criterion that allowed abortionsfor women living in economic hardship was abolished due to pressurefrom religious political parties.

A woman who seeks to terminate a pregnancy mustappear before one of the 41 abortion committees operating in publicand private hospitals around the country. These committees include aphysician whose field of expertise is obstetrics and gynecology;another physician who is either a family doctor, psychiatrist,internist or gynecologist and a social worker. At least one woman mustbe present on each committee.

Six separate committees consider requests fortermination when a fetus is beyond 24 weeks old. No hospitals in Jerusalem,however, will perform these abortions.

In 1999, 19,674 applications out of 20,581 wereapproved (96%) and 18,785 pregnancies were terminated. In addition,16,000 abortions were illegally performed in private doctors' clinics.