U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON : 

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59–118

" ! SENATE 105TH CONGRESS

2d Session

TREATY DOC.

1998

105–40

TREATY WITH ISRAEL ON MUTUAL LEGAL

ASSISTANCE IN CRIMINAL MATTERS

MESSAGE

FROM

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

TRANSMITTING

TREATY BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES

OF AMERICA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL

ON MUTUAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE IN CRIMINAL MATTERS,

SIGNED AT TEL AVIV ON JANUARY 26, 1998, AND A RELATED

EXCHANGE OF NOTES SIGNED THE SAME DATE

APRIL 2, 1998.—Treaty was read the first time and, together with the

accompanying papers, referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

and ordered to be printed for the use of the Senate

(III)

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

THE WHITE HOUSE, April 2, 1998.

To the Senate of the United States:

With a view to receiving the advice and consent of the Senate to

ratification, I transmit herewith the Treaty between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the

State of Israel on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters,

signed at Tel Aviv on January 26, 1998, and a related exchange of

notes signed the same date. I transmit also, for the information of

the Senate, the Report of the Department of State with respect to

the Treaty.

The Treaty is one of a series of modern mutual legal assistance

treaties being negotiated by the United States for the purpose of

countering criminal activities more effectively. The Treaty should

be an effective tool to assist in the prosecution of a wide variety

of modern criminals, including those involved in terrorism, other

violent crimes, drug trafficking, money laundering, and other white

collar crime. The TReaty is self-executing.

The Treaty provides for a broad range of cooperation in criminal

matters. Mutual assistance available under the Treaty includes:

taking the testimony or statements of persons; providing documents, records, and articles of evidence; serving documents; locating or identifying persons or items; transferring persons in custody

for testimony or for other assistance; executing requests for

searches and seizures; assisting in proceedings related to seizure,

immobilization and forfeiture of assets, restitution, and collection of

fines; executing procedures involving experts; and providing any

other form of assistance appropriate under the laws of the Requested State.

I recommend that the Senate give early and favorable consideration to the Treaty and give its advice and consent to ratification.

WILLIAM J. CLINTON.

(V)

LETTER OF SUBMITTAL

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, March 5, 1998.

The PRESIDENT,

The White House.

THE PRESIDENT: I have the honor to submit to you the Treaty between the Government of the United States of America and the

Government of the State of Israel on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters (‘‘the Treaty’’), signed at Jerusalem on January 26,

1998, and a related exchange of notes signed the same date. I recommend that the Treaty and the related exchange of notes be

transmitted to the Senate for its advice and consent to ratification.

The Treaty covers mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.

In recent years, similar bilateral treaties have entered into force

with a number of countries. This Treaty contains many provisions

similar to those in the other treaties and all of the essential provisions sought by the United States. The Treaty will enhance our

ability to investigate and prosecute a variety of offenses, including

drug trafficking, terrorism, other violent crimes, and money laundering and other white-collar crime. The Treaty is designed to be

self-executing and will not require new legislation.

Article I contains a non-exclusive list of the major types of assistance to be provided under the Treaty, including taking the testimony or statements of persons; providing documents, records, and

articles of evidence; serving documents; locating or identifying persons or items; transferring persons in custody for testimony or

other assistance under this treaty; executing requests for searches

and seizures; assisting in proceedings related to seizure, immobilization and forfeiture of assets; and providing any other form of

assistance not prohibited under the laws of the Requested State.

Assistance under the Treaty is to be provided without regard to

dual criminality (i.e., whether the conduct involved would constitute an offense under the laws of both States).

Article 1(4) states explicitly that the Treaty is intended solely for

mutual assistance between the Parties. The Treaty provisions shall

not give rise to any right, that does not otherwise exist, on the part

of any private person to obtain, suppress, or exclude any evidence,

or to impede the execution of a request for assistance.

Article 2 provides for the establishment of Central Authorities

and defines the Central Authorities for purposes of the Treaty. For

the United States, the Central Authority is the Attorney General

or an official designated by the Attorney General. For Israel, the

Central Authority is the Minister of Justice or an official designated by the Minister of Justice. Article 2 specifies that the Cen-
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tral Authorities will make and receive requests pursuant to the

Treaty, and that the Central Authorities will communicate directly

with one another for purposes of the Treaty.

Article 3 sets forth the circumstances under which the Requested

State’s Central Authority may deny assistance under the Treaty. A

request may be denied if the request, if granted, would prejudice

the sovereignty, security, important public policy, ordre public, or

other essential interest of the Requested State, if it relates to a political offense, or to an offense under military law which would not

be an offense under ordinary criminal law; or if the request is not

made in conformity with the Treaty.

Before denying assistance under Article 3, the Central Authority

of the Requested State is required to consult with its counterpart

in the Requesting State to consider whether assistance can be

given subject to such conditions as the Central Authority of the Requested State deems necessary. If the Requesting State accepts assistance subject to these conditions, it is required to comply with

the conditions. If the Central Authority of the Requested States denies assistance, it must inform the Central Authority of the Requesting State of the reasons for the denial.

Article 4 prescribes the form and contents of written requests

under the Treaty, specifying in detail the information required in

each request. The Article provides that requests for assistance

must be in writing, except that the Central Authority of the Requested State may, in its discretion, accept a request in another

form in urgent situations, but requires written confirmation within

the time period determined by the Central Authority of the Requested State. All requests must be accompanied by a translation

in the language of the Requested State unless otherwise agreed.

Article 5 requires the competent authority of the Requested State

to promptly execute the request or, where appropriate, to transmit

it to the authority having jurisdiction to do so. The competent authorities of the Requested State must do everything in their power

to execute requests. The Article provides that the Courts of the Requested State shall have the authority to issue subpoenas, search

warrants, or other orders necessary to execute the request. In the

case of Israel this authority will be derived from its domestic law.

The Central Authority of the Requested State is required to make

all necessary arrangements for the representation in the Requested

State of the Requesting State in any proceeding arising out of a request for assistance.

Under Article 5(3), requests are to be executed as empowered by

the Treaty or by applicable law. The method of execution specified

in the request is to be followed except insofar as it is prohibited by

the laws of the Requested State. If the Central Authority of the Requested State determines that execution of a request would interfere with an ongoing criminal investigation, prosecution, or proceeding of that State, it may postpone execution or make execution

subject to conditions determined to be necessary after consultation

with the Central Authority of the Requesting State. If the Requesting State accepts assistance subject to such conditions, it must

comply with them.

Article 5(5) states that the Requesting State may request that

the request for assistance, the contents of the request and its supporting documents, and the fact of granting such assistance be kept
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confidential, and discusses consequences of such a request for confidentiality. Article 5(6) requires the Central Authority of the Requested State to respond to reasonable requests by its counterpart

concerning progress toward execution of the request. Article 5(7)

requires the Central Authority of the Requested State to promptly

inform its counterpart from the Requesting State of the outcome of

the execution of the request.

Article 6 apportions between the two States the costs associated

with the execution of requests. The Article provides that the Requested State is responsible for paying all costs relating to the execution of a request, except that the Requesting State must pay for

the fees of expert witnesses, the costs of translation, interpretation,

and transcription, and the allowances and expenses related to the

travel of persons pursuant to Articles 10 and 11. The Article also

provides that, in cases in which extraordinary expenses arise, the

Central Authorities of the Parties are to consult with one another

to determine the manner in which the expenses shall be borne. Finally, the Article provides that the Parties shall also consult to determine the manner in which costs shall be borne in certain cases

including requests for seizure, immobilization or forfeiture of assets

or restraining orders.

Article 7(1) provides that the Requested State shall not use evidence or information obtained under the Treaty for purposes other

than those stated in the request without prior consent of the Central Authority of the Requested State.

Article 7(2) provides that the Central Authority of the Requested

State may request that information or evidence furnished under

the Treaty be kept confidential or be used only subject to terms

and conditions it may specify. If the Requesting State accepts the

information or evidence subject to such conditions, it is required to

comply with the conditions to the fullest extent possible. Under Article 7(3), nothing in the Article precludes the United States from

using or disclosing information in a criminal prosecution if it is the

Requesting State and is required to do so under its Constitution,

or precludes Israel from using or disclosing the information in a

criminal prosecution if it is the Requesting State and is obligated

to do so under the fundamental rights provided under it law.

Article 7(4) states, finally, that unless otherwise indicated by the

Requested Party when executing the request, information or evidence, the contents of which have been disclosed in a public judicial

or administrative proceeding related to the request, may thereafter

be used for any purpose.

Article 8 provides that the Requested State must, upon request,

endeavor to obtain a statement of a person for the purpose of an

investigation, prosecution or proceeding of the Requesting State.

The Requested State, if necessary, must compel the appearance of

a person for taking testimony and producing documents, records,

and articles to the same extent as would be permitted in investigations, prosecutions, and proceedings of that State. The Article requires the Central Authority of the Requested State, upon request,

to inform the Requesting State in advance about the date and place

of the taking of the statement, testimony or evidence pursuant to

this Article.
VIII

Article 8(4) requires the Requested State to permit the presence

of such persons as specified in the request during the execution of

the request, and to allow such persons to question the person giving the statement, testimony or evidence, provided that they would

be competent to do so in the Requesting States. Under Article 8(5),

in the event that a person whose testimony or evidence is being

taken asserts a claim of immunity, incapacity, or privilege under

the laws of the Requesting State, the statement, testimony or evidence shall nonetheless be taken and the claim made known to the

Central Authority of the Requesting State for resolution by authorities of that State.

Finally, in order to ensure admissibility in evidence in the Requesting State, Article 8(6) provides that evidence provided by the

Requested State pursuant to this Article or which is the subject of

testimony taken under this Article may be authenticated by an attestation, or in another manner specified by the Requesting State,

which may include, in the case of business records, authentication

in the manner indicated in Form A appended to the Treaty, if so

requested. No further authentication or certification shall be necessary in order for such documentary information to be admissible

in proceedings of the Requesting State.

Article 9 requires that the Requested State provide the Requesting State with copies of publicly available records in the possession

of government departments and agencies in the Requested State.

The Requested State may also provide copies of any records that

are in the possession of authorities in that State but that are not

publicly available, to the same extent and under the same conditions as such copies would be available to its own law enforcement

or judicial authorities. However, the Requested State has the discretion to deny such requests entirely or in part.

Official records produced pursuant to Article 9 may be authenticated under the provisions of the Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents, dated 5

October 1961, or they may be authenticated by the official in

charge of maintaining them in the manner specified by the Requesting State, which may include the use of Form B appended to

the Treaty, if so requested. No further authentication or certification shall be necessary in order for such records to be admissible

in evidence in proceedings of the Requesting State.

Article 10 provides that when the Requesting State requests the

voluntary appearance of a person before authorities of that State,

the Requested State shall invite the person to appear before the

appropriate authority of the Requesting State. The Requesting

State is required to indicate the extent to which the expenses of the

person will be paid. The Central Authority of the Requested State

shall promptly inform the Central Authority of the Requesting

State of the response of the person.

Article 11 provides for the temporary transfer to one State, for

purposes of assistance under the Treaty, of a person in custody in

the other State, provided that the person in question consents and

the Central Authorities of both States agree. Article 11(3) establishes the express authority and the obligation of the receiving

State to maintain the person transferred in custody unless otherwise authorized by the sending State. It further obligates the re-
IX

ceiving State to return the person to the custody of the sending

State as soon as circumstances permit or as otherwise agreed by

the Central Authorities of both States, without the need for extradition proceedings. The person transferred is to receive credit for

service of the sentence imposed in the sending State for time

served in the custody of the receiving State. Article 11(4) provides

that if the sending State notifies the receiving State that the transferred person is no longer required to be held in custody that person must be either expeditiously returned to the sending State or

be set at liberty. A person so set at liberty is entitled to the cost

of his return travel to the sending State, if he returns to that State.

Article 12 provides that a person appearing before authorities of

the receiving State pursuant to a request under Article 10 or 11

will not, with respect to criminal proceedings, be subject to service

of process, or be detained or subjected to any other restriction of

liberty, with respect to any acts or conviction which preceded that

person’s departure from the sending State, except as provided by

Article 11. The Central Authority of the Requesting State may, in

its discretion, determine that a person appearing before its authorities pursuant to a request under Article 10 or 11 will not, with respect to civil proceedings, be detained or subjected to any restriction of personal liberty, with respect to any acts or omissions which

preceded his departure from the Requested State. Where not inconsistent with its domestic laws, the Central Authority of the receiving States may, in its discretion, determine that a person appearing before its authorities pursuant to a request under Article 10 or

11 will not, with respect to civil proceedings, be subject to service

of process with respect to any acts or omissions which preceded his

departure from the sending State. Safe conduct, as provided in Article 12, ceases fifteen days after the person has been notified that

his presence is no longer required, and being physically able to depart, he has not left the receiving State, or when the person, having left the Requesting State, voluntarily returns.

Article 13 obligates the Requested State to use its best efforts to

ascertain the location or identity of persons or items specified in a

request.

Article 14 obligates the Requested State to use its best efforts to

execute a request to effect service of a document, and to the extent

possible to effect such service in the manner specified by the Requesting State. A request for the service of a document seeking the

appearance of a person before any authority in the Requesting

State must be transmitted a reasonable time prior to the scheduled

appearance. The Requested State is required to return proof of

service in the manner specified in the request. If services cannot

be effected, or cannot be effected in the manner specified, the Requesting State must be informed and advised of the reasons.

Article 15 obligates the Requested States to execute requests for

search, seizure, and delivery of any article to the Requesting State

if the request includes the information justifying such action under

the laws of the Requested State. It provides that upon request, and

to the extent possible, every official who has custody of a seized

item is required to certify in a manner specified by the Requesting

State, which may include the use of Form C appended to this Treaty, the continuity of custody, the identity of the item, and the integ-
X

rity of its condition. No further authentication or certification is required for a certification under this paragraph to be admissible as

proof of the truth of the matters asserted therein.

Finally, Article 15 provides that the Central Authority of the Requested State may impose terms and conditions on the transfer of

the seized items to protect third party interests in the property.

Article 16 requires the Requesting State’s Central Authority,

upon request of its counterpart in the Requested State, to return

as soon as possible any documents, records, or articles of evidence

furnished to it in execution of a request under the Treaty.

Article 17 addresses issues relating to assistance in forfeiture

and other proceedings. It obligates the Parties to assist each other,

to the extent permitted by their respective laws, in procedures relating to the forfeiture of the proceeds and instrumentalities of offenses, which may include action to temporarily seize or immobilize

the proceeds or instrumentalities pending further proceedings. If

the Central Authority of either Party becomes aware of proceeds or

instrumentalities of offenses which may be forfeitable or otherwise

subject to seizure or immobilization under the laws of the other

Party, it may so inform the Central Authority of the other Party.

A Party that has custody over proceeds or instrumentalities of offenses shall dispose of them in accordance with its laws. Either

Party may transfer all or part of such assets, or the proceeds of

their sale, to the other Party, to the extent permitted by the transferring Party’s laws and upon such terms as it deems appropriate.

The Parties are required to assist each other, to the extent permitted by their respective laws, in connection with restitution to

victims of crime, and the imposition or collection of fines in criminal proceedings. However, they are not obligated to enforce orders

of restitution or to collect fines or to enforce judgments imposing

fines.

Article 18 provides that if the authorities of one Party become

aware of criminal acts which the other Party may have jurisdiction

to investigate or prosecute, the Central Authority of the first Party

may refer the matter and, upon request , submit any relevant evidence to the Central Authority of the other Party.

Article 19 states that assistance and procedures provided in this

Treaty shall not prevent either Party from granting assistance to

the other Party through the provisions of other applicable international agreements, or through the provisions of its domestic

laws. The Parties may also provide assistance pursuant to any applicable bilateral arrangement or agreement, provided that such assistance is not prohibited by the laws of the Requested State.

Article 20 provides that the Central Authorities of the Parties

shall consult, at times mutually agreed, to promote the most effective use of the Treaty, and may agree on such practical measures

as may be necessary to facilitate the Treaty’s implementation.

Article 21 provides that the Treaty is subject to ratification, and

the instruments of ratification will be exchanged as soon as possible. The Treaty will enter into force upon the exchange of instruments of ratification. The Treaty applies to any request presented

after the date of its entry into force, even if the request relates to

offenses which occurred before that date. Either Party may termi-
XI

nate the Treaty by means of written notice to the other Party, termination to take effect six months following the date of notification.

When the Treaty was signed on January 26, 1998, the United

States and Israel exchanged diplomatic notes, which was an integral part of the Treaty, addressing the relationship of the Treaty

and Convention Between the Government of the United States of

America and the Government of the State of Israel with Respect

to Taxes on Income, signed on November 20, 1975, with Protocols

signed on May 30, 1980 and on January 26, 1993, which entered

into force on December 30, 1994 (the ‘‘Tax Convention’’). In those

notes, the Parties express their understanding that this Treaty applies to ‘‘fiscal offenses’’, defined as criminal tax offenses, but assistance will not be requested under this Treaty with respect to a

fiscal offense if the case concerned would, by its nature, come within the scope of the provision for cooperation between tax authorities contained in the Tax Convention, unless the form of assistance

requested is not included within the framework of the Tax Convention or the case concerned also includes additional serious non-fiscal offenses. In any event, a request for assistance under this Treaty with regard to a fiscal offense should specify whether assistance

under the Tax Convention has been previously requested or granted. The Parties also expressed their understanding in these notes

that requests for assistance in the form of bank records with respect to a fiscal offense will be made only in connection with serious offenses involving willful, fraudulent conduct. Serious offenses

would include, for example, cases involving substantial sums of

money or involving a pattern of criminal conduct.

A Technical Analysis explaining in detail the provisions of the

Treaty is being prepared by the United States negotiating delegation, consisting of representatives from the Departments of Justice

and State, and will be transmitted separately to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

The Department of Justice joins the Department of State in recommending approval of this Treaty by the Senate as soon as possible.

Respectfully submitted,

MADELEINE ALBRIGHT.
(1)

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