Israel bans smoking on military bases

TEL AVIV, Israel, Feb. 21 (UPI) -- Israel has banned smoking at all military bases, police stations and prisons.

The Knesset passed an amendment Tuesday to the anti-smoking law, with 11 members voting in favor and only Moshe Sharoni of the Pensioners Party opposed, Ynetnews.com reported.

The new law bans smoking in Israeli military classrooms, dining halls and any other indoor public facilities. Soldiers will be allowed to smoke in their quarters and around the base but not indoors.

"I have no problem with soldiers smoking and believe me, no one will be able to enforce this law in (military) bases," Sharoni said. "It's a foolish law. What are they going to do -- create a special police force to give tickets for smoking on base?"