Document:

8A-12G/A

Exhibit 4.1  

RIGHTS AGENT AGREEMENT 

        This
Rights Agent Agreement, made and entered into as of December 15, 2005, by and between
Tower Semiconductor Ltd., a company organized under the laws of Israel (the
“Company”), and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York trust
company with offices at 59 Maiden Lane, New York, New York 10038 (“AST”). 

WITNESSETH: 

WHEREAS, the Company has filed with
the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (i) a Registration Statement on Form F-1 (the
“Registration Statement”), which Registration Statement has been declared
effective and (ii) a final prospectus (the “Prospectus”) setting forth the terms
of the proposed offering by the Company (the “Rights Offering”) of rights (the
“Rights”) to purchase its 5% Convertible Subordinated Debentures Due 2012 (the
“Debentures”), each in the principal amount of $1.00, which are convertible into
Ordinary Shares, NIS 1.00 nominal value (the “Ordinary Shares”); 

WHEREAS, the Company has filed with
the Israel Securities Authority, and such Authority has approved, a prospectus which is
substantially the same as the Prospectus (the “Israeli Prospectus”); 

WHEREAS, The Bank of New York
(“BONY”) will serve as Note registrar for the Debentures and as Trustee under
that certain Indenture, dated as of December 15, 2005, by and between the Company, BONY
and Hermetic Trust (1975) Ltd. (the “Indenture”); 

WHEREAS, the Rights and the
Debentures will be transferable and an application has been made for both the Rights and
Debentures to be listed for trading on the NASDAQ Capital Market and the Tel Aviv Stock
Exchange (the “TASE”); 

WHEREAS, the Company will issue,
under the terms of the Rights Offering, one Right for each 138.98 Ordinary Shares held as
of record as of the date set forth in the Prospectus as the record date (the “Record
Date”), and each Right will entitle the holder to purchase at the exercise price of
$100.00 (the “Subscription Price”), 100 U.S. Dollar denominated Debentures in
the aggregate principal amount of $100.00, substantially in the form of Exhibit A to the
Indenture, and that the Rights will be evidenced by transferable certificates (the
“Rights Certificates”) in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A; 

WHEREAS, as described in the
Prospectus and the Israeli Prospectus, the Company will also issue Rights to purchase
Debentures to employees who hold as of the Record Date options under certain of the
Company’s employee share option plans that entitle option holders to participate in
offering of rights by the Company, (“the Employee Rights”); 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to
engage AST to issue and deliver the Rights Certificates and to act as transfer agent and
registrar for the Rights, and AST is willing to act in such capacities. 

        NOW,
THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree, in consideration of the mutual covenants and promises
herein contained, as follows: 

     1.
          APPOINTMENT OF RIGHTS AGENT. AST is hereby appointed as transfer agent and
          registrar for the Rights and to generally effect the Rights Offering in
          accordance with the terms of the Rights, this Agreement and the Prospectus, and
          the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. Each reference to the
          “Rights Agent” in this Agreement is to AST acting in its capacities as
          transfer agent and registrar for the Rights. 

     2.
          DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS BY COMPANY TO THE RIGHTS AGENT 

     (a)
          The Company will cause to be timely delivered to the Rights Agent sufficient
          copies of the following documents for delivery to the holders of record of the
          Ordinary Shares at the close of business on the Record Date (the “Rights
          Holders”): 

	 	
(i)
            the Prospectus, which includes instructions for exercise of the Rights (the
          “Instructions”) and/or a form of notice to purchaser that complies
          with Rule 173(a) under the Securities Act of 1933 regarding notice in lieu of
          prospectus delivery (“Rule 173 Notice”);  

	 	
(ii)
            blank transferable Rights Certificates, which includes on the reverse thereof
          forms to be completed in connection with the exercise or transfer of the
Rights;  

	 	
(iii)
            Form W-9 and Form W-8; and  

	 	
(iv)
            Form of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.  

     (b)
          The Company will also deliver to the Rights Agent certified copies of
          resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company in connection with
          the Rights Offering. 

3.                DETERMINATION OF
RIGHTS HOLDERS AND RIGHTS  

(a)                On or about the
Record Date, the Rights Agent shall create and maintain from the                stock
ledger and register maintained by AST as transfer agent and registrar of
               the Ordinary Shares, a record of the names, addresses and, where
available, U.S.                taxpayer identification numbers, of the Rights Holders,
and the number of Rights                each Rights Holder is entitled to receive in the
Rights Offering (the                “Rights Record”). The Rights Agent shall
promptly send a copy of the                Rights Record to the Company by telecopy as
soon as it is available. The number                of Rights to be issued to each Rights
Holder shall be determined by dividing                138.98 by the number of Ordinary
Shares that such Rights Holder held of record                as of the Record Date, but
in lieu of issuing fractional Rights, the Rights                Agent shall round each
such fraction to the next lower whole number of Rights.                The Rights Record
shall also include the number of the Rights Certificate issued                to each
Rights Holder, the number of Rights evidenced on its face by each of the
               Rights Certificates and the date of each of the Rights Certificates.  

(b)                The Company shall
create from its regularly maintained records a record of the                names and
addresses and the number of the recipients of the Employee Rights as                well
as the number of Employee Rights to be issued to each such recipients (the
               “Employee Rights Record”). The Company shall have sole
responsibility                for the creation and maintenance of the Employee Rights
Record. On or about the                Record Date, the Company shall deliver to the
Rights Agent a notice setting                forth the aggregate number of Employee
Rights to be issued which notice shall                (i) instruct the Rights Agent to
issue a Rights Certificate representing such                aggregate number of Employee
Rights registered in the name of the TASE Nominee                (as defined in Section
4(b) below) and (ii) contain instructions to the TASE                Nominee for further
crediting the Employee Rights to the account of a nominee                broker which
will hold the Employee Rights on behalf of the holders thereof (the                “Employee
Rights Certificate”). Promptly after the issuance thereof,                the Rights
Agent shall promptly deliver the Employee Rights Certificate to the                TASE
Nominee along with the instructions for further crediting of the Employee
               Rights contained in the Company’s notice. The TASE Nominee shall be
deemed                a Rights Holder, as such term is used in this Agreement, with
respect to the                Employee Rights.  

4.                ISSUANCE OF THE
RIGHTS CERTIFICATES AND MAILING OF DOCUMENTS BY RIGHTS AGENT.  

(a)                As soon as
practicable after delivery of the documents described in subparagraph                2(a)
hereof and receipt of written instructions from the Company, the Rights
               Agent will cause to be issued Rights Certificates in the names of the
Rights                Holders and for the number of Rights to which they are each
entitled, as                determined in accordance with Paragraph 3 above. The Rights
Agent shall either                manually sign or affix a duly authorized facsimile
signature on all Rights                Certificates. As soon as practicable after
issuance of the Rights Certificates,                the Rights Agent shall mail or cause
to be mailed, via first class mail, to each                Rights Holder the following:  

	 	(i) 	a
Rights Certificate, registered in the name of the Rights Holder and dated the
               date of issuance thereof by the Rights Agent, evidencing the Rights to
which                such Rights Holder is entitled; 

	 	(ii)	          a
Prospectus, including the Instructions, or a Rule 173 Notice (as directed by
          the Company); 

	 	(iii)	       a
Form W-9 or Form W-8 (as applicable); and 

	 	(iv)	         an
envelope addressed to the Rights Agent. 

Prior to mailing, the Rights Agent
shall make reasonable efforts to identify which of the Rights Holders are likely to be
nominee holders and to include the Instructions with the mailing to such Rights Holders. 

3

     (b)
          The Company and the Rights Agent may mutually agree that the Rights Agent shall
          use methods other than first class mail, including personal delivery, delivery
          by International Express Mail, or delivery by recognized expedited courier
          service such as Federal Express, UPS, DHL or Courier Network. In addition,
          unless otherwise instructed by the Company in writing, the Rights Agent shall
          deliver to the Company by expedited courier or by such other means as the
          Company shall instruct the Rights Agent, all Rights Certificates (other than the
          Employee Rights Certificate) and other documents to be delivered to Rights
          Holders reflected on the Rights Record as having a record address in the State
          of Israel (the “Israeli Rights Holders”), including any Rights
          Certificates (other than the Employee Rights Certificate) to be issued to Hevra
          Lerishumim of Bank Leumi which acts as the nominee for the Ordinary Shares held
          through the facilities of the Clearing House of the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (the
          “TASE Nominee”). The Company undertakes to make and shall be
          responsible for the further delivery of the rights certificates and other
          documents to the Israeli Rights Holders. 

     (c)
          Promptly after the Rights Certificates and other documents are mailed, the
          Rights Agent shall execute and deliver to the Company a certificate or
          certificates substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto. 

     (d)
          Subsequent to their original issuance, no Rights Certificates shall be issued by
          the Rights Agent except Rights Certificates issued upon any transfer,
          combination, split up or exchange of Rights or issued in replacement of
          mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Rights Certificates pursuant to Paragraph 6
          hereof. 

     5.
          SUBSCRIPTION PROCEDURE. 

     (a)
          Except as provided in subparagraph 5(c) hereof, for a valid exercise of Rights
          to occur, the Rights Agent must receive, by mail, hand delivery, or otherwise,
          prior to 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on January 12, 2006 (or on a later date
          if the Rights Agent receives a written notice thereof from the Company on or
          prior to the original expiration date) (the “Expiration Date”), (i)
          the Rights Certificate pertaining to the Rights being exercised, which has been
          properly completed and endorsed for exercise as provided in the instructions
          accompanying the Rights Certificate, or a Notice of Guaranteed Delivery and (ii)
          payment in full of the Subscription Price for each Right being exercised in U.S.
          Dollars by wire transfer or by check drawn on a bank located in the United
          States payable to the order of “American Stock Transfer & Trust
          Company, as Rights Agent.” 

     (b)
          Upon the proper exercise of Rights by a holder thereof made in accordance with
          subparagraphs 5(a) or (c) hereof, the Rights Agent shall, promptly after such
          exercise, send to the Company written notice of such exercise, which shall set
          forth (i) the number of Rights exercised by such holder, (ii) the aggregate
          subscription payment and the principal amount of Debentures subscribed for,
          (iii) the denominations and the registered name(s) and address(es) in which the
          holder has requested that such Debentures be issued. The authentication and
          issuance of the Debentures shall be effectuated by the Company and BONY as the
          registrar of the Debentures under the Indenture; the Rights Agent shall have no
          responsibilities in connection with the issuance and/or authentication of the
          Debentures. The Rights Agent shall as soon as practicable after the Expiration
          Date provide to the Company a summary of all the Rights exercises made in
          accordance with subparagraph 5(a) hereof, which summary shall set forth (i) the
          name and address of the Rights Holder that exercised the Rights, (ii) the number
          of Rights exercised by each such Rights Holder, (iii) the total Subscription
          Price paid by such Rights Holder and (iii) the number and principal amount of
          Debentures issued to such Rights Holder. 

4

     (c)
          The TASE Nominee and other Israeli Rights Holders may elect to exercise Rights
          directly with the Company by paying the subscription payment in New Israeli
          Shekels (or in U.S. Dollars if requested thereby and the Company so approves in
          writing) as set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “The Rights
          Offering–Method of Exercise of Rights for Record Holders.”
          Additionally, any Rights Holders that reside outside of Israel may exercise
          their Rights directly with the Company and pay the Subscription Price in New
          Israeli Shekels or in U.S. Dollars if prior to the Expiration Date the Company
          approves a written request from such Rights Holder to exercise directly with the
          Company (“Authorized Rights Holder”). The TASE Nominee and other
          Israeli Rights Holders (or any Authorized Rights Holder) shall exercise their
          Rights by delivery directly to the Company on or prior to midnight Israel time
          on the Expiration Date of payment in full of the Subscription Price for each
          Right being exercised in New Israeli Shekels (or in U.S. Dollars in the case of
          an Authorized Rights Holder or the TASE Nominee or Israeli Rights Holders if
          approved by the Company) by check or wire transfer payable to the Company,
          accompanied by such other notices and instructions which shall be certified or
          confirmed as the Company may prescribe all in accordance with the procedures
          described in the Prospectus. The Company will promptly notify the Rights Agent
          in writing of the identity of the Rights Holders who exercised their Rights
          directly through the Company and the number of Rights so exercised. The
          authentication and issuance of the Debentures to the Rights Holders who
          exercised their Rights directly through the Company shall be effectuated by the
          Company and BONY as the Debenture registrar under the Indenture. 

(d)        Each
Right may be exercised to purchase One Hundred (100) U.S. Dollar           denominated
Debentures at the Subscription Price. Debentures shall be issued in           one or more
multiples of $1.00, and each Debenture is of $1.00 principal amount.           Rights
Holders, such as banks, securities dealers and brokers, who receive           Rights
through the Depository Trust Company as nominees for one or more           beneficial
owners shall be entitled to exercise their Rights Certificates on           behalf of the
beneficial owners.  

(e)        To
the extent that any Rights Certificates remain unexercised or outstanding at
          5:01 P.M., New York City time, on the Expiration Date such outstanding Rights
          Certificates shall be automatically deemed cancelled and of no further force
and           effect.  

5

     6.
          DEFECTIVE EXERCISE OF RIGHTS; TRANSFER, ETC. OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATES; LOST RIGHTS
          CERTIFICATES. 

     (a)
          Upon receipt by the Company from the Rights Agent of evidence of a defective
          exercise of Rights, the Company shall have the right to reject any such
          defective exercise or to waive the defect in exercise. If the Company delivers
          to the Rights Agent a notice that the Company rejects any defective exercise of
          Rights, the Rights Agent shall as soon as practicable (i) if the defect and the
          necessary correction can be adequately explained by telephone and the holder can
          correct the defect without possession of the Rights Certificate(s), attempt to
          contact the holder of such Rights by telephone to explain the nature of the
          defect or (ii) mail the Rights Certificate, together with a letter explaining
          the nature of the defect in exercise and how to correct the defect. If an
          exercise is not defective except that there is a partial payment of the
          Subscription Price, the Rights Agent shall so notify the Company in writing as
          to the number and principal amount of Debentures for which payment has been made
          and the Company shall thereafter effectuate the authentication and issuance of
          such Debentures in accordance with the Indenture. Any Rights Certificate with
          respect to which defects in exercise are not corrected prior to 5:00 P.M., New
          York City time, on the Expiration Date, or which are received after such time,
          shall be returned to the holder of such Rights Certificate. 

     (b)
          The Rights Certificate may be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged for
          another Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates. Any Rights Holder desiring to
          transfer, split up, combine or exchange any Rights Certificate or Rights
          Certificates shall make such request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent,
          and shall surrender the Rights Certificate or Rights Certificates to be
          transferred, split up, combined or exchanged at the office of the Rights Agent
          designated for such purpose. Neither the Rights Agent nor the Company shall be
          obligated to take any action whatsoever with respect to the transfer of any such
          surrendered Rights Certificate until the Rights Holder shall have completed and
          signed the certificate contained in the form of assignment on the reverse side
          of the Rights Certificate. 

     (c)
          Upon the receipt by the Rights Agent and the Company of evidence reasonably
          satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of a Rights
          Certificate, and upon receipt of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory
          to them and reimbursement of all expenses incidental thereto, and upon surrender
          and cancellation of the Rights Certificate if mutilated, the Company will make
          and deliver a new Rights Certificate of like tenor to the Rights Agent for
          delivery to the registered owner in lieu of the Rights Certificate so lost,
          stolen, destroyed or mutilated. The Rights Agent may, at the direction of the
          Company and with the consent of the registered holder of the lost, stolen or
          destroyed Rights Certificate, permit the exercise of the Rights evidenced by
          such certificate without a replacement of such certificate. 

     7.
          SUBDIVISION, SALE OR TRANSFER OF RIGHTS. The Rights Agent shall facilitate
          subdivisions of the Rights by issuing new Rights Certificates in accordance with
          the instructions set forth on the reverse side of the Rights Certificates at any
          time on or prior to the Expiration Date. Until 5:00 p.m., New York City time,
          on the third business day prior to the Expiration Date (the “Cut-Off
          Date”), the Rights Agent shall facilitate subdivision or transfers of
          Rights Certificates by issuing new Rights Certificates in accordance with the
          instructions set forth on the reverse side of the Rights Certificates. After the
          Cut Off Date, the Rights Agent may facilitate subdivision or transfers of the
          Rights Certificate up until 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Expiration
          Date if the Rights Holder has delivered to the Rights Agent a properly executed
          Notice of Guaranteed Delivery. 

6

     8.
          PROOF OF AUTHORITY TO SIGN. The Rights Agent need not procure supporting legal
          papers, and is authorized to dispense with proof of authority to sign (including
          all proof of appointment or authority to sign of any fiduciary, custodian for a
          minor, or other person acting in a representative capacity), and to dispense
          with the signatures of co-fiduciaries, in connection with exercise of Rights in
          the following cases: 

     (a)
          where the Rights Certificate is registered in the name of an executor,
          administrator, trustee, custodian for a minor or other fiduciary, and the
          subscription form thereof is executed by such executor, administrator, trustee,
          custodian for a minor or other fiduciary, then the Rights Agent shall advise the
          Company in writing that the Debentures are to be issued in the name of the
          registered holder of the Rights Certificate, as appropriate; and 

     (b)
          where the Rights Certificate is in the name of a corporation and the
          subscription form thereof is executed by an officer of such corporation, then
          the Rights Agent shall advise the Company in writing that the Debentures are to
          be issued in the name of such corporation. 

In all of the cases set forth in this
Paragraph 8 and notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the
check tendered in payment of the Subscription Price must be drawn for the amount of the
Subscription Price for the number of Rights being exercised, to the order of the Rights
Agent and otherwise be in proper form (subject to the provisions of Section 6(a) hereof
regarding partial payment of the Subscription Price), and there must be no evidence
indicating that the subscriber is not the duly authorized representative he purports to
be. 

     9.
          CANCELLATION AND DESTRUCTION OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATES. All Rights Certificates
          surrendered for the purpose of exercise shall, if surrendered to the Company or
          to any of its agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in
          cancelled form, or if surrendered to the Rights Agent shall be cancelled by it,
          and no Rights Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly
          permitted by any of the provisions of this Agreement. The Rights Agent may
          deliver all cancelled Rights Certificates to the Company, and if delivered to
          the Company, it shall make available to the Rights Agent the cancelled Rights
          Certificates for its inspection. 

     10.
          TAXES. The Company covenants and agrees that it will pay when due and payable
          any and all federal and state taxes and charges (including those in the United
          States and Israel) which may be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery
          of the Rights Certificates. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay
          any tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer or other assignment of
          Rights Certificates or the issuance or delivery of certificates for Debentures
          in a name other than that of the registered holder of the Rights Certificate
          evidencing Rights surrendered for exercise or to issue or deliver any
          certificates for Debentures upon the exercise of any Rights until any such tax
          shall have been paid (any such tax being payable by the holder of such Rights
          Certificate at the time of surrender) or until it has been established to the
          Company’s satisfaction that no such tax is due. 

7

     11.
          DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS. Any funds received by the Rights Agent as payments in
          connection with the subscriptions for Debentures pursuant to the Rights Offering
          shall be held in a segregated interest bearing money market account by the
          Rights Agent pending receipt after the Expiration Date of written disbursement
          instructions from the Company, after which the funds and any interest earned
          thereon shall be promptly disbursed in accordance with each such written
          instructions from the Company. The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and
          directed to endorse, negotiate and deposit all subscription payments into an
          interest bearing money market account to be maintained with the Rights Agent.
          The Rights Agent shall provide an accounting to the Company from time to time,
          as the Company may reasonably request, regarding the subscription payments
          deposited into such account. 

     12.
          DUTIES OF RIGHTS AGENT. The Rights Agent undertakes the duties and obligations
          imposed by this Agreement upon the following terms and conditions, by all of
          which the Company and the holders of Rights Certificates, by their acceptance
          thereof, shall be bound: 

     (a)
          the Rights Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be legal counsel for
          the Company) and the opinion of such counsel shall be full and complete
          authorization to the Rights Agent. 

     (b)
          Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement the Rights Agent
          shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be proved or
          established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder,
          such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein
          specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established
          by a certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial
          Officer of the Company and delivered to the Rights Agent; and such certificate
          shall be full authorization to the Rights Agent for any action taken or suffered
          in good faith by it under the provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such
          certificate. 

     (c)
          The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own gross negligence or
          willful misconduct. 

     (d)
          The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of any of the statements
          of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement by the Company, in the Rights
          Certificates or in the Prospectus, or be required to verify the same, but all
          such statements and recitals are and shall be deemed to have been made by the
          Company only. 

     (e)
          Nothing herein contained shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting in another
          capacity for the Company or for any other person or entity. 

8

     (f)
          The Rights Agent shall not be under any responsibility in respect of the
          validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof (except the due
          authorization and execution hereof by such Rights Agent) or in respect of the
          validity or execution of any Rights Certificate; nor shall it be responsible for
          any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this
          Agreement or in any Rights Certificate; nor shall it by any act hereunder be
          deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization of any
          Debentures to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Rights Certificate. 

     (g)
          With respect to each Rights Certificate that the Rights Agent is required to
          mail hereunder, the Rights Agent shall maintain a blanket surety bond protecting
          the Company and the Rights Agent from loss or liability arising out of
          non-receipt or non-delivery of such certificates. 

     (h)
          Promptly after the Expiration Date, the Rights Agent shall execute and deliver
          to the Company a certificate or certificates substantially in the form of
          Exhibit C hereto. 

     13.
          REPORTS. The Rights Agent shall make available to the Company, upon the
          Company’s request, the following information: (i) the number and aggregate
          principal amount of Debentures validly subscribed for, (ii) the number and
          aggregate principal amount of Debentures for which defective subscriptions have
          been received, and (iii) the amounts of collected and uncollected funds in the
          subscription escrow account established under this Agreement. As soon as
          practicable after the Expiration Date, or upon the request from the Company from
          time to time thereafter, the Rights Agent shall certify in writing to the
          Company the cumulative totals through the Expiration Date of all the information
          set forth in clauses (i) through (iii) above. The Rights Agent shall also
          maintain and update a record of holders who have fully or partially exercised
          their Rights and holders who have not exercised their Rights. The Rights Agent
          shall provide the Company or its designees with such information compiled by the
          Rights Agent pursuant to this Paragraph 14 as the Company shall request from
          time to time. 

     14.
          FUTURE INSTRUCTIONS. With respect to notices or instructions to be provided by
          the Company hereunder, the Rights Agent may rely and act on any written
          instruction signed by any one or more of the following authorized officers or
          employees of the Company: Russell C. Ellwanger, Oren Shirazi and Nati Somekh
          Gilboa. 

     15.
          PAYMENT OF EXPENSES. The Company will pay the Rights Agent compensation for its
          services under this Agreement in accordance with Schedule 1 hereto, and will
          reimburse the Rights Agent for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred by
          it in so acting. 

9

     16.
          INDEMNIFICATION. 

     (a)
          The Company covenants and agrees to indemnify and hold the Rights Agent harmless
          against any costs, expenses (including reasonable fees for legal counsel),
          losses or damages, which may be paid, incurred or suffered by or to which the
          Rights Agent may become subject, arising from or out of, directly or indirectly,
          any claim or liability resulting from its actions pursuant to this Agreement
          other than costs, expenses, losses and damages incurred or suffered by the
          Rights Agent as a result of, or arising out of, its gross negligence or willful
          misconduct in connection with performance of its duties hereunder. 

     (b)
          If the indemnification provided for in this Paragraph 16 is applicable, but for
          any reason is held to be unavailable, the Company shall contribute such amount
          as is just and equitable to pay, or to reimburse the Rights Agent for, the
          aggregate of any and all losses, liabilities, costs, damages and expenses,
          including reasonable counsel fees, actually incurred by the Rights Agent as a
          result of or in connection with, and any amount paid in settlement of, any
          action, claim or proceeding arising out of or relating in any way to any actions
          or omissions of the Company. 

     (c)
          If any action is brought against the Rights Agent in respect of which indemnity
          may be sought against the Company pursuant to this Paragraph 16, the Rights
          Agent shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the institution of such
          action and the Company may, at its option, assume the defense of such action,
          including the employment and fees of counsel (which counsel shall be reasonably
          satisfactory to the Rights Agent) and payment of expenses. The Rights Agent
          shall have the right to employ its own counsel in any such case, but the fees
          and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of the Rights Agent unless
          the employment of such counsel shall have been authorized in writing by the
          Company in connection with the defense of such action or the Company shall not
          have employed counsel to have charge of the defense of the action or the Rights
          Agent shall have reasonably concluded that there may be defenses available to it
          which are different from or additional to those available to the Company (in
          which case the Company shall not have the right to direct the defense of such
          action on behalf of the Rights Agent), in any of which events the fees and
          expenses of not more than one additional firm of attorneys for the Rights Agent
          shall be borne by the Company. 

     17.
          FURTHER ASSURANCES. The Company agrees to do such further acts and things and to
          execute and deliver such statements, assignments, agreements, instruments and
          other documents as the Rights Agent from time to time reasonably may request in
          connection with the administration, maintenance, enforcement or adjudication of
          this Agreement in order (a) to give the Rights Agent confirmation and assurance
          of the Rights Agent’s rights, powers, privileges remedies and interests
          under this Agreement and applicable law, (b) to better enable the Rights Agent
          to exercise any such right, power, privilege or remedy, or (c) to otherwise
          effectuate the purpose and the terms and provisions of this Agreement, each in
          such form and substance as may be acceptable to the Rights Agent. 

     18.
          CUMULATIVE RIGHTS. The rights and remedies granted to the Rights Agent in this
          Agreement are cumulative and not exclusive, and are in addition to any and all
          other rights and remedies granted and permitted under and pursuant to law. 

10

     19.
          NO WAIVER. The failure of any of the signatories hereto to enforce any provision
          hereof on any occasion shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any preceding or
          succeeding breach of such provision or any other provision. 

     20.
          ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and
          understanding of the signatories hereto and no amendment, modification or waiver
          of any provision herein shall be effective unless in writing, executed by the
          party charged therewith. 

     21.
          GOVERNING LAW. Except as hereinafter provided, this Agreement shall be
          construed, interpreted and enforced in accordance with and shall be governed by
          the laws of the State of Israel without regard to the principles of conflicts of
          laws. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Paragraph 16 of this Agreement shall be
          construed, interpreted and enforced with and shall be governed by the laws of
          the State of New York. 

     22.
          BINDING EFFECT. This Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the
          parties, their successors and assigns. 

     23.
          ASSIGNMENT AND DELEGATION OF DUTIES. This Agreement may not be assigned by the
          parties hereto. This Agreement is in the nature of a personal service contract
          and the duties imposed hereby are non-delegable. 

     24.
          PARAGRAPH HEADINGS. The paragraph headings herein have been inserted for
          convenience of reference only, and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the
          terms or provisions hereof. 

     25.
          NOTICES. Any notice or other communication required or permitted under the
          provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing, and shall be given by postage
          prepaid, registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, by hand
          delivery with receipt acknowledged, by telecopy with receipt confirmed or by the
          express mail service offered by the United States Post Office or the Israel
          Postal Authority, directed to the Company and to the Rights Agent at the
          addresses set forth below, or to any new address of which any party hereto shall
          have informed the others by the giving of notice in the manner provided herein.
          Such notice or communication shall be effective upon delivery or, if shipped by
          mail, three days after it is mailed within the continental United States. 

	 	The Company:	
Tower Semiconductor Ltd.

Ramat Gavriel Industrial Park

Migdal-Haemek, Israel

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

Telecopy No.:  011 972 (4) 654-6510

11

	 	
with
copies to: 

	 	
Eilenberg & Krause LLP

11 East 44th St

New York, NY 10017

Attention:  Sheldon Krause, Esq.

Telecopy No.:  212-986-2399

and to

	 	
Yigal Arnon & Co.

One Azrieli Center

Tel Aviv, Israel 67021

Attention: David H. Schapiro, Esq.

Telecopy No.: 011 972-3-608-7714

	 	The Rights Agent:	
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company

59 Maiden Lane

New York, NY 10038

Attention: Reorganization Department

Telecopy No.: 718-234-5001

with a copy to:

Herbert Lemmer, Esq.

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company

59 Maiden Lane

New York, NY 10038

Telecopy No.: 718-331-1852

     26.
          UNENFORCEABILITY; SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Agreement is found to
          be void or unenforceable by a court of competent Jurisdiction, then the
          remaining provisions of this Agreement, shall, nevertheless, be binding upon the
          parties with the same force and effect as though the unenforceable part had been
          severed and deleted. 

     27.
          THIRD PARTY RIGHTS. The representations, warranties and other terms and
          provisions of this Agreement are for the exclusive benefit of the parties
          hereto’ and no other person shall have any right or claim against any party
          by reason of any of those terms and provisions or be entitled to enforce any of
          those terms and provisions against any party. 

     28.
          COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, all of which shall
          be deemed to be duplicate originals. 

[Signatures appear on
next page.] 

12

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned
have executed this Agreement as of the date and year first above written. 

	TOWER SEMICONDUCTOR LTD.

By: /s/ Oren Shirazi
——————————————

Name:   Oren Shirazi
Title:   Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

	AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER
& TRUST COMPANY

By: /s/ Herbert L. Lemmer
——————————————

Name:  Herbert L. Lemmer
Title: Vice President

13

EXHIBIT A 

	 	 
	Rights Certificate Number: _________ 	Number of Rights: _________  

	 	
CUSIP:
M89915167  

TOWER SEMICONDUCTOR LTD. 

Organized under the laws of the State of Israel 

RIGHTS CERTIFICATE  

Evidencing Rights to Purchase 5% Subordinated Convertible Subordinated Debentures

Due 2012 

THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR THE
DISTRIBUTION OF RIGHTS ARE SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT BETWEEN TOWER SEMICONDUCTOR
LTD. (THE “COMPANY”) AND AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY AND THE
COMPANY’S PROSPECTUS DATED AS OF DECEMBER 15, 2005 (THE
“PROSPECTUS”), WHICH ARE INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE.
COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST FROM THE RIGHTS AGENT OR THE
COMPANY. CAPITALIZED TERMS USED HEREIN WITHOUT DEFINITION SHALL HAVE THE MEANINGS ASCRIBED
TO SUCH TERMS IN THE PROSPECTUS. 

THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE MUST BE
RECEIVED BY THE RIGHTS AGENT WITH PAYMENT IN FULL BEFORE 5:00 P.M. NEW YORK TIME ON
JANUARY 12, 2006 (OR ON A LATER DATE UPON NOTICE THEREOF FROM THE COMPANY), OR BY TOWER
SEMICONDUCTOR LTD. WITH PAYMENT IN FULL BEFORE 5:00 P.M. ISRAEL TIME ON JANUARY 12, 2006
(OR ON A LATER DATE UPON NOTICE THEREOF FROM THE COMPANY) 

Subscription Price:
$100.00 per Right 

THE RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE IF NOT  EXERCISED ON OR BEFORE  JANUARY  12,2006,  AT 5:00 P.M.,  NEW YORK TIME (OR ON A
LATER DATE UPON NOTICE THEREOF FROM THE COMPANY)

RECORD HOLDER
[___________] 

THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT the
record holder named above, or its assigns, is entitled to subscribe on or before the
Expiration Date set forth above, for Debentures convertible into Ordinary Shares of the
Company, on the terms and conditions specified in the Prospectus, by exercising the Rights
represented by this Certificate. Each full Right, accompanied by payment of $100.00, will
entitle the holder to purchase Debentures in the aggregate principal amount of One Hundred
Dollars. Each Debenture is of $1.00 principal amount and bears interest at the rate of
five percent (5%) per annum. The Debentures are convertible into Ordinary Shares of the
Company at a conversion rate of one Ordinary Share per $1.10 aggregate principal amount of
Debentures. The Debentures which the holder is entitled to purchase will be issued only in
integral multiples of $1.00. The Rights represented by this Rights Certificate may be
exercised by completing Form 1A and any other appropriate forms on the reverse side of
this Certificate. Before exercising Rights, Rights Holders are urged to read carefully and
in their entirety the Prospectus and the Instructions on the reverse side of this
Certificate. 

The Rights represented by this
Certificate may be transferred or sold by completing Form 2 in accordance with the
Instructions on the reverse side of this Certificate. 

This Rights Certificate is not valid
unless countersigned by the Rights Agent. 

Witness, the facsimile seal of the
Company and the facsimile signatures of its duly authorized officers. 

TOWER SEMICONDUCTOR LTD.

Dated:  ____________________

	
By: /s/ Ehud Hillman
——————————————

Chairman of the Board

	
By: /s/ Nati Somekh Gilboa
——————————————

Secretary

[seal]

	
By: /s/ Russell C. Ellwanger
——————————————

Director and Chief Executive Officer

Countersigned: 

AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER
& TRUST COMPANY, 
as Rights Agent

By    ___________________________

              Authorized Officer

Dated:  ______________________

[REVERSE OF CERTIFICATE] 

TOWER SEMICONDUCTOR
LTD. 

RETURN TO RIGHTS AGENT: 

by mail, overnight or hand delivery to:

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company

59 Maiden Lane

New York, New York 10038

Attention:  Reorganization Department

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company

6201 15TH Avenue

Brooklyn, New York 11219

Attention:  Reorganization Department

OR  RETURN  TO THE  COMPANY  ONLY  IF YOU  ARE A  RECORD  HOLDER  RESIDING  IN  ISRAEL  AND  DESIRE  TO PAY THE
SUBSCRIPTION PRICE IN NEW ISRAELI SHEKELS

by mail or by hand delivery to: 

Tower Semiconductor Ltd.

Ramat Gavriel Industrial Zone

Migdal Haemek, Israel

Attention: Nati Somekh-Gilboa, Corporate Secretary

EXERCISE AND SUBSCRIPTION

THE EXPIRATION DATE OF THIS RIGHTS CERTIFICATE IS JANUARY 12, 2006

at 5:00 P.M. NEW YORK TIME OR MIDNIGHT ISRAEL TIME (OR ON A LATER

DATE UPON NOTICE THEREOF FROM THE COMPANY)

FORM 1A –
SUBSCRIPTION 

I hereby exercise Rights and
subscribe for the purchase of Debentures, upon the terms specified in the Prospectus
relating thereto, as follows: 

					
	No. of Rights Exercised	   Price	Payment
	[________]	x	   $100.00	=	[______]

(THIS FULL AMOUNT, PAYABLE TO THE
ORDER OF AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, MUST ACCOMPANY THE SUBSCRIPTION. IF
YOU ARE A RECORD HOLDER RESIDING IN ISRAEL AND YOU ARE SENDING YOUR SUBSCRIPTION DIRECTLY
TO THE COMPANY, THIS FULL AMOUNT MUST BE PAID IN NEW ISRAELI SHEKELS ACCORDING TO THE
REPRESENTATIVE EXCHANGE RATE PUBLISHED BY THE BANK OF ISRAEL ON THE DAY BEFORE PAYMENT AND
PAYABLE TO THE ORDER OF TOWER SEMICONDUCTOR LTD.) 

___ Please issue the Debentures
subscribed for in a single Note 

___ Please issue the Debentures
subscribed for in the following denominations: 

		
	——————————————	——————————————
	Subscriber's Signature	Telephone No. (including area code)

(If Form 1B is being completed, a signature guarantee will be required) 

Signature Guaranteed By: 

	——————————————————————	 
	
IMPORTANT:  The  signature(s)  should be  guaranteed

by an  eligible guarantor   institution   (bank,   stock

broker,   savings  &  loan association   and  credit  union)

with  membership  in  an  approved signature  guarantee

medallion  program  pursuant to Securities  and

Exchange Commission Rule 17Ad-15.
	  

FORM 1B –
DELIVERY TO DIFFERENT ADDRESS AND/OR REGISTERED 
OWNER(S) 

INSTRUCTIONS FOR
DELIVERY TO DIFFERENT ADDRESS AND/OR REGISTERED OWNER(S) 

If you wish any of the Debentures for which
you are subscribing to be delivered to an address or registered in a name different from
that shown on the face of this Rights Certificate, please enter the name, address and
denominations below. If you are completing this Form 1B, a signature guarantee will be
required in Form 1A. 

_____________________________

_____________________________

_____________________________

FORM 1C – METHOD
OF PAYMENT 

METHOD OF PAYMENT (CHECK
ONE)  

__  Uncertified check drawn on a bank
located in the United States payable to the order
of American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Rights Agent. Note: Funds paid by an
uncertified check may take at least five business days to clear. Accordingly, Rights
holders who pay the Subscription Price with an uncertified check must make payment
sufficiently in advance of the Expiration Date to ensure that the check is received and
clears by the Expiration Date. The Company will not consider any payment by check to have
been made until the check clears.

__  Certified check or bank
check drawn on a bank located in the United States payable to the order of American Stock
Transfer & Trust Company, as Rights Agent. 

__  Wire transfer of immediately
available funds directed to the account maintained by the American Stock Transfer &
Trust Company, as Rights Agent, for purposes of accepting subscriptions in this Rights
Offering at JPMorgan Chase, 55 Water Street, New York, New York 10005, Account No.
323-836933, ABA No. 021000021, reference Tower Semiconductor Ltd., Attention:
Reorganization Department. 

__  Wire transfer of
immediately available funds in New Israeli Shekels directed to the account maintained by
the Company at Bank Leumi Le Israel, Haifa Main Branch, 21 Jaffa Street, Haifa, Israel,
Branch #876, Account # 130300162, SWIFT Code: LUMILITTLV, or certified check, uncertified
check or bank check drawn on a bank located in Israel payable to the order of Tower
Semiconductor Ltd. (Check this line only if you are an Israeli record holder
subscribing directly with the Company and paying in New Israeli Shekels) 

If the amount enclosed or
transmitted is not sufficient to pay the subscription price for all of the Rights
exercised, or if the number of Rights to be exercised is not specified, the holder will be
deemed to have subscribed for the maximum number of Rights that could be subscribed for
the amount enclosed or transmitted. 

FORM 2 –
ASSIGNMENT 

For value received, the Rights
represented by this Rights Certificate are hereby assigned to (signature guarantee
required): 

		
	——————————————	——————————————
	Name (print in full)	Address (print in full)
	  
	——————————————	——————————————
	Tax I.D. or Social Security No	Signature of Record Holder

		 
	
Signature Guaranteed By:____________________

IMPORTANT:  The  signature(s)  should be  guaranteed

by an  eligible guarantor   institution   (bank,   stock

broker,   savings  &  loan association   and  credit  union)

with  membership  in  an  approved signature  guarantee

medallion  program  pursuant to Securities  and

Exchange Commission Rule 17Ad-15.
	  

INSTRUCTIONS 

TO SUBSCRIBE, USE OF
FORMS 1A, 1B AND 1C 

To subscribe, fill in Forms 1A, 1B
(if applicable) and 1C on your Rights Certificate and sign on the line marked
“Subscriber’s Signature.” 

Each Right entitles its holder to
purchase for a Subscription Price of $100 Debentures in the aggregate principal amount of
One Hundred Dollars. Full payment of the Subscription Price must accompany the Rights
Certificate and may come via wire transfer or check drawn by a bank located in the United
States payable to the order of American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Rights
Agent, or if you are a rights holder residing in Israel and subscribing directly with the
Company and paying in New Israeli Shekels, via wire transfer or check drawn by a bank
located in the Israel payable to the order of Tower Semiconductor Ltd. If a holder sends a
partial payment of the Subscription Price, such holder will only be issued the number and
principal amount of Debentures for every $100 of Subscription Price which has been paid. 

NOTE: You may choose to
exercise fewer Rights than the maximum number of Rights to which you are entitled, as
represented by the Rights Certificate. To do this, follow the instructions for Forms 1A
and 1B using only the number of Rights for which you wish to subscribe. 

TO TRANSFER OR SELL YOUR
RIGHTS THROUGH YOUR BROKER, USE FORM 2. 

If you wish to transfer or sell your
Rights through your broker just sign Form 2 leaving the rest of the form blank. (Your
broker will add the buyer’s name later.) Deliver your Rights Certificate and the
accompanying envelope to the broker. Your signature on Form 2 must be guaranteed by an
eligible guarantor institution (bank, stock broker, savings & loan association and
credit union) with membership in an approved signature guarantee medallion program,
pursuant to S.E.C. Rule 17Ad-15. 

TO TRANSFER OR SELL YOUR
RIGHTS CERTIFICATE, USE FORM 2 

If you wish to transfer or sell your
Rights to someone other than through your broker, sign Form 2, fill in the
transferee’s name and address, and deliver the Rights Certificate and the
accompanying envelope to the person to whom you transferred the Rights Certificate. The
Rights Certificate may then be used by the new holder for the exercise of Rights without
having a new Rights Certificate issued. Your signature must be guaranteed by an eligible
guarantor institution (bank, stock broker, savings & loan association and credit
union) with membership in an approved signature guarantee medallion program, pursuant to
S.E.C. Rule 17Ad-15. 

EXHIBIT B  

CERTIFICATE OF
AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY 

Pursuant to Paragraph 4(c) of that
certain Rights Agent Agreement (the “Agreement”), dated as of December 15, 2005,
by and between Tower Semiconductor Ltd. (the “Company”) and American Stock
Transfer & Trust Company (“AST”), AST does hereby certify that (capitalized
terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the
Agreement): 

     1.
          It has is duly appointed and authorized to act as the transfer agent and
          registrar for the Ordinary Shares of the Company. 

     2.
          It has been duly appointed to act as transfer agent and registrar for the rights
          (the “Rights”) to purchase Debentures of the Company. 

     3.
          In its capacity as Rights Agent and in accordance with the Agreement, it has of
          this date issued, countersigned and mailed Rights Certificates evidencing an
          aggregate of ___ Rights, which are exercisable for the purchase of Debentures in
          the aggregate principal amount of $________________, together with accompanying
          Prospectus or Rule 173 Notice and other materials, in accordance with the Rights
          Agent Agreement with the Company dated as of December 15, 2005 and the
          Prospectus. 

     4.
          Said certificates were countersigned on its behalf in its capacity as Rights
          Agent by authorized officers who were at the time of affixing their signatures
          duly authorized to countersign such certificates. 

Dated: December ____,
2005. 

AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER
& TRUST COMPANY 

	
By:
——————————————

Authorized Officer 

EXHIBIT C  

CERTIFICATE OF
AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY 

Pursuant to Paragraph 12(h) of that certain
Rights Agent Agreement (the “Agreement”), dated as of December 15, 2005, by and
between Tower Semiconductor Ltd. (the “Company”) and American Stock Transfer
& Trust Company (“AST”), AST does hereby certify that (capitalized terms
used herein without definition shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Agreement): 

     1.
          It is duly appointed and authorized to act as the transfer agent and registrar
          for the Rights and Ordinary Shares of the Company. 

     2.
          It has been duly appointed to act as transfer agent and registrar for the rights
          (the “Rights”) to purchase Debentures of the Company pursuant to the
          Agreement. 

     3.
          As of the Expiration Date, ______ Rights were duly exercised through it in
          accordance with the Agreement and in connection therewith it received an
          aggregate Subscription Price of $_______________. 

     4.
          Pursuant to Section 5(b) of the Agreement, it has as of this date instructed the
          Company that Debentures in the aggregate principal amount of $________________
          should be issued and authenticated as an original issue in connection with the
          exercise of Rights, and, to the best of AST’s knowledge, Debentures in the
          aggregate principal amount of $________________ have been subscribed for by the
          exercise of Rights by Rights Holders who exercised their Rights in accordance
          with Paragraph 5(c) of the Agreement. 

Dated: January ____, 2006. 

AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER
& TRUST COMPANY 

	
By:
——————————————

Authorized Officer 

SCHEDULE 1 – FEES OF
THE RIGHTS AGENT 

$7,500S-8

EXHIBIT 4.1  

Nova Measuring
Instruments Ltd. 

STOCK OPTION PLAN 8 

	1.  	Purposes
of the Plan. The purposes of this Stock Option Plan           (hereinafter: the “Plan”)
are to attract and retain the best available           personnel for positions of
substantial responsibility, to provide additional           incentive to such individuals
and to promote the success of the Company’s           business, by providing
Employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries with the           opportunity to purchase
shares of the Company, pursuant to the Plan approved by           the Board of Directors
of the Company, and the Company’s Shareholders’          General Meeting which
is designed to benefit from, and is made, subject to           Article 21 below, pursuant
to, the provisions of Section 102 of the Israeli           Income Tax Ordinance [New
Version], 1961 and the rules promulgated there under. 

	2.  	Definitions  

	 	2.1 	“Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company. 

	 	2.2 	“Committee” shall
mean the Committee, appointed by the Board in accordance with Article 4 of this Plan or
the Board, in case no such committee is appointed. 

	 	2.3 	“Company” shall mean Nova Measuring Instruments Ltd., an Israeli corporation. 

	 	2.4 	“Consultant” shall
mean a person providing bona fide services to the Company or a Subsidiary if the services
are not provided in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital-raising
transaction, and do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the
registrant’s securities. 

	 	2.5 	“Continuous
Status as an Employee” shall mean the absence of any interruption or termination
of service as an Employee or Consultant. Continuous Status as an Employee or Consultant
shall not be considered interrupted in the case of sick leave, military leave, or any
other leave of absence not exceeding 90 days, or in case reemployment upon the expiration
of such leave is guaranteed by contract or statute. 

	 	2.6 	“Employee” shall
mean any person, including officers, directors and Consultants, employed by or serving
for the Company or Subsidiary of the Company. 

	 	2.7 	“Exercise
Price” shall mean the Fair Market Value of the Ordinary Shares of the Company at
the time such option is granted to the Employee, unless resolved otherwise by the Board. 

	 	2.8 	“Fair
Market Value” of an Ordinary Share as of a particular date shall mean: 

	  	(i)       
So
long as the Company’s shares are quoted on the NASDAQ National Market,           the
Fair Market Value shall be deemed to be the closing price of the Ordinary
          Shares of the Company on the NASDAQ National Market on the last business day
          immediately prior to the date of grant. If the Company’s shares are traded
          or quoted on a securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system other than
          NASDAQ National Market and are not quoted on the NASDAQ National Market, the
          Fair Market Value shall be deemed to be the closing price of the Ordinary
Shares           of the Company on such security exchange or inter-dealer quotation
system on the           last business day immediately prior to the date of grant.  

	  	(ii)       
If
actively traded over-the-counter, but not quoted on NASDAQ or quoted or
               traded on another inter-dealer quotation system or exchange, the Fair
Market                Value shall be deemed to be the average of the closing bid prices
over the                30-day period ending immediately prior to the applicable date of
grant.  

	 	2.9 	“Option” shall
mean a stock option granted pursuant to the Plan. 

	 	2.10 	“Optioned
Stock” shall mean Ordinary Stock subject to an Option.

	 	2.11 	“Optionee”shall
mean an Employee who receives an Option.

	 	2.12 	“Ordinary
Stock” shall mean the Ordinary Shares of the Company.

	 	2.13 	“Plan”shall
mean this Stock Option Plan.

	 	2.14 	“Share” shall
mean a share of Ordinary Stock, as adjusted in accordance with Article 12 below. 

	 	2.15 	“Subsidiary” shall
mean each of Nova  Inc.,  a  corporation  registered  in the  U.S.A.,  Nova  K.K.,  a
         corporation  registered in Japan, Nova Measuring  Instruments  Netherlands B.V,
a corporation  registered          in the  Netherlands  and Nova  Measuring  Instruments
 Taiwan Ltd., a corporation  registered in the ROC.          Subsidiary  shall also mean
any other  corporation to be  incorporated by the Company which is considered          as
such according to the Israeli Companies Law.

	3.  	Stock
Subject to the Plan. Subject to the provisions of Article 12 of the           Plan,
the maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be optioned and sold under           the
Plan is 2,500,000 Shares of Ordinary Stock. The Shares may be authorized,           but
unissued, Shares of Ordinary Stock. 

	 	
If
an Option should expire or become unexercisable, for any reason, without having been
exercised in full, the unpurchased Shares subject thereto shall become available for
future grant under the Plan, unless the Plan shall have been terminated. 

	4.  	Administration
of the Plan.  

	 	4.1 	Procedure.
The Plan shall be administered by the Board. 

2

		    (i)        Subject
to sub-article (ii), the Company’s Compensation Committee is
               appointed as the Committee under the Plan and shall administer the Plan on
               behalf of the Board, subject to the terms and provisions of the
Compensation                Committee Charter and the Plan. The Compensation Committee
shall continue to                administer the Plan unless and until otherwise directed
by the Board.  

		    (ii)        The
Board may appoint a Committee other than the Compensation Committee
               consisting of not less than three independent Board members to administer
the                Plan on behalf of the Board, subject to such terms and conditions as
decided by                the Board. Once appointed, the Committee shall continue to
serve until otherwise                directed by the Board. The Board may increase the
size of any Committee                appointed pursuant to this sub-article (ii), remove
members (with or without                cause) and appoint new members in substitution
therefore, fill vacancies however                caused or remove all members of the
Committee and thereafter administer the                Plan.  

	 	4.2 	Powers
of the Committee. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, and of any applicable law,
the Committee shall have the authority: (i) to grant Stock Options; (ii) to determine the
Employees to whom, and the time or times at which, Options shall be granted and the
number of Shares to be represented by each Option; (iii) to interpret the Plan; (iv) to
determine the terms and provisions of each Option granted (which need not be identical)
and, subject the consent of the holder thereof, modify or amend each Option; (v) to
authorize any person to execute on behalf of the Company any instrument required to
effectuate the grant of an option previously granted pursuant to the Plan; and (vi) to
make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of the
Plan. No member of the Committee shall be held liable for any act or determination made
in good faith in respect to the Plan. 

	 	
Subject
to the provisions of the Plan, and of any applicable law, the Committee may recommend to
the Board, inter alia: (i) prescription, amendment and rescission of rules and
regulations relating to the Plan; (ii) acceleration or deferral (subject to Optionee’s
consent) of the exercise date of any Option, consistent with the provisions of Article 6
below; (iii) approval of the transfer of the Option by the Optionee to any entity under
the Optionee’s control (the “Transferee”) pursuant to the terms as set
forth in Section 11 below; (iv) adjustments that might be made pursuant to Section 12.1
below; (v) actions that might be taken by the Board as specified in Section 12.2; (vi)
whether cashless exercises should be permitted in accordance with Section 12.3.4; and
(vii) to amend, alter, suspend or discontinue the Plan from time to time.  

	 	4.3 	Effect
of the Committee’s Decision. All decisions, determinations and interpretations
of the Committee shall be final and binding on all Optionees and any other holders of any
Options granted under the Plan, unless otherwise determined by the Board. All decisions,
determinations and interpretations of the Board shall be final and binding on all
Optionees and any other holders of any Options granted under the Plan. 

3

	5.  	Eligibility  

	 	5.1 	Stock
Options may be granted to Employees.

	 	5.2 	Nothing
in this Plan or any Option granted hereunder shall confer upon any Optionee any right
with respect to continuation of employment or consulting relationship with the Company,
nor shall it interfere in any way with the Optionee’s right or the Company’s
right to terminate his employment or consulting relationship at any time, with or without
cause. 

	6.  	Term
of Plan.  

	 	
The
Plan shall become effective upon its adoption by the Board or its approval by the
shareholders of the Company, as described in Article 18 of the Plan, whichever is
earlier. It shall continue in effect for a term of 10 years from that date unless sooner
terminated in accordance with the provisions of this Plan.  

	7.  	Term
of Option  

	 	
The
term of each Stock Option shall be no more than 7 years from date of grant.  

	8.  	Trustee  

	 	
Subject
to the provisions of Article 21 below, the Option Awards and/or Shares of the Company
issued upon exercise of the Options will be held in trust, by a Trustee (the “Trustee”)
who will hold the same pursuant to the Company’s instructions from time to time. The
Trustee shall not use the voting rights vested in any such shares and shall not exercise
said rights in any way whatsoever, except in cases when, at his discretion and after
consulting with the Board, the Trustee believes that the said rights should be exercised
for the protection of the Optionees as a minority among the Company’s Shareholders.  

	9.  	Exercise
Price and Consideration  

	 	9.1 	The
consideration to be paid for the exercise of the Option shall be the Exercise Price
multiplied by the number of Shares which are allotted to each Optionee. 

	 	9.2 	The
consideration to be paid for the Shares issued upon exercise of an Option, shall consist
entirely of cash, check, or such other consideration that may be approved from time to
time by the Committee. 

	10.  	Exercise
of Option  

	 	
The
exercise of an Option by an Employee shall be governed by the following provisions:  

	 	10.1 	The
Trustee shall be solely entitled to exercise an Option, provided that the Shares be held
in Trust for a period of not less than two (2) years from the date of approval of this
Plan. 

4

	 	10.2 	The
exercise of an Option shall be subject to the schedules, numbers and amounts as
stipulated in the Option Agreement; provided, however, that no Employee shall have the
right to exercise more than as set forth in the following vesting schedule: 

	 	10.2.1 	25%
of the  Optioned  Stock  shall be  exercisable  after 12  month  of the date of grant
 (the  "Initial          vesting Date");

	 	10.2.2 	the
remainder of the Optioned Stock shall be exercisable on a monthly basis so that at the
end of each month after the Initial Vesting Date the Optionee shall be entitled to
exercise 2.083% of the optioned stock; 

	 	10.2.3 	Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, the Board shall have sole discretion to determine that
the vesting schedule may be shortened and that the vesting process shall be accelerated. 

	 	10.3 	Exercise
Procedure. Options granted hereunder shall be exercisable at such times and under
such conditions as determined by the Committee at the time of grant, including
performance criteria relating to the Company and/or the Optionee, and as shall be
permissible under the terms of the Plan. An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of
a Share. 

	 	10.4 	An
Option shall be deemed to be exercised when a written notice of such exercise has been
submitted to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Option by the person
entitled to exercise the Option and provided that full consideration for the Shares with
respect to which the Option is being exercised has been received by the Company. Full
consideration may, as authorized by the Committee, consist of any consideration and
method of payment allowable under the Plan. 

	 	10.5 	The
Trustee shall not exercise the Option and/or deliver Shares to any Optionee unless the
Optionee, prior to or concurrently with such exercise and/or delivery, provides the
Trustee with written evidence satisfactory in form and substance to the Trustee that all
taxes, if any, required to be paid upon such exercise and/or delivery, have, in fact,
been paid, to the tax authorities or to the Company as the case may be. 

	 	10.6 	Until
the issuance (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a
duly authorized transfer agent of the Company) of the stock-certificate evidencing such
Shares, no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a shareholder shall
exist with respect to the Optioned Stock, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option. The
Company shall issue (or cause to be issued) such stock certificate promptly upon exercise
of the Option. 

5

	 	10.7 	Termination
of Status as an Employee. In the event of termination of an Optionee’s
Continuous Status as an Employee, such Optionee may exercise Options to the extent
exercisable by the date of termination within a period of one month therefrom (or
shorter time as may be specified in the applicable Option Agreement), but in no event
later than the date of expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Option
Agreement. To the extent that the Optionee was not entitled to exercise the Option at the
date of such termination, or does not exercise such Option within the time specified
herein, the Option shall terminate. In the event that the Optionee’s employment is
terminated by the Company under circumstances which do not entitle such Optionee to
receive compensation for termination and/or in the event that the Optionee breaches any
fiduciary duty and/or confidentiality obligation towards the Company and is dismissed as
a result of such breach, all Options including exercisable Options, shall expire
immediately upon the date on which a notice sent by the Company to the Optionee notifying
the Optionee of the Optionee’s termination. 

	 	10.8 	Disability
of Optionee. Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 10.7 above, in the event of
termination of an Optionee’s Continuous Status as an Employee as a result of his
total and permanent disability, he may exercise his Options to the extent he was entitled
to exercise them at the date of such termination within three (3) months (or such shorter
period as is specified in the applicable Option Agreement) from the date of such
termination (but in no event later than the date of expiration of the term of such Option
as set forth in the Option Agreement). To the extent that the Optionee was not entitled
to exercise the Option at the date of termination, or does not exercise such Option (to
the extent exercisable) within the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate. The
Board shall have the exclusive discretion, in exceptional cases, to decide whether an
extension to the aforesaid periods is to be granted, and under what terms. 

	 	10.9 	Death
of Optionee. Notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 10.7 and 10.8 above, in the
event of the death of an Optionee who shall have been in Continuous Status as an Employee
since the date of grant of the Option, the Option may be exercised, at any time within
six (6) months (or such shorter period as is specified in applicable Option Agreement)
following the date of death (but in no event later than the date of expiration of the
term of such Option as set forth in the Option Agreement), by the Optionee’s estate
or by a person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance,
but only to the extent of the right to exercise that would have accrued had the Optionee
continued living and remained in Continuous Status as an Employee six (6) months after
the date of death. The Board shall have the exclusive discretion, in exceptional cases,
to decide whether an extension to the aforesaid periods is to be granted, and under which
terms. 

	11.  	Non-Transferability
of Options and Stock Purchase Rights. An Option may           not be sold, pledged,
assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any           manner other than by
will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be           exercised, during the
lifetime of the Optionee, only by the Optionee.           Notwithstanding the
aforementioned, the Board may, at its sole discretion,           approve the transfer of
the Option by the Optionee to any entity under the           Optionee’s control (the
“Transferee”) provided inter alia that:           (i) the Transferee has agreed
in writing to be bound by all obligations by which           the Optionee is bound
including without limitation the Company’s right to           cancel Options which
would otherwise be exercisable in the events described in           Section 10.7 above;
(ii) that the Optionee shall provide assurances, to the           satisfaction of the
Board that all taxes applicable with regard to such transfer           were paid, or an
approval from the tax authority providing that the Company           and/or the Trustee,
as the case may be, are exempt from performing any           withholding and/or from any
other liability with regard to such transfer and           further that any of the Company’s
liabilities under Section 102 of the           Income Tax Ordinance shall expire
immediately upon consummation of such transfer           with regards to the Options so
transferred; and (iii) that the issuance of           Shares issuable in the event of
exercise of the Option by the Transferee is           compliant with the requirements of
the applicable securities law including,           without limitation, the rules
applicable to the registration of shares issuable           under option plans. 

6

	12.  	Adjustments
Upon Changes in Capitalization or Merger.  

	 	12.1 	Changes
in Capitalization. Subject to any required action by the shareholders of the Company,
the number of shares of Ordinary Stock covered by each outstanding Option, and the number
of Shares of Ordinary Stock which have been authorized for issuance under the Plan but as
to which no Options have yet been granted or which have been returned to the Plan upon
cancellation or expiration of an Option, as well as the Exercise Price, shall be
proportionately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of
Ordinary Stock resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend,
combination or reclassification of the Ordinary Stock, or any other increase or decrease
in the number of issued shares of Ordinary Stock effected without receipt of
consideration by the Company; provided, however, that conversion of any convertible
securities of the Company shall not be deemed to have been “effected without receipt
of consideration.” Such adjustment shall be made by the Board, whose determination
in that respect shall be final, binding and conclusive. Except as expressly provided
herein, no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities
convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason
thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price of shares of Ordinary Stock
subject to an Option. 

	 	12.2 	Dissolution
or Liquidation. Other than with respect to the events described in Section 12.3
herein, in the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, each
Option will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed action,
unless otherwise provided by the Board. The Board may, in the exercise of its sole
discretion in such instances, declare that any Option shall terminate as of a date fixed
by the Board and give each Optionee the right to exercise his Option as to all or any
part of the Optioned Stock, including Shares as to which the Option would not otherwise
be exercisable. 

	 	12.3 	Merger,
Sale of Assets, Change of Control.  

	 	12.3.1 	Acceleration
Events: In the event of a (i) proposed sale of all or substantially all of the assets
of the Company or; (ii) a proposed merger of the Company with or into another corporation
or entity, which after such transaction the Company’s Shareholders hold less than
50% of the shares of the surviving entity; or (iii) a proposal to purchase the Company’s
shares so that after such purchase the purchaser holds 50% or more of the Company’s
Shares or; (iv) a Special Purchase Offer as such term is defined in Section 328 of the
Company’s Law – 1999, ( “Acceleration Event”), the vesting process
shall be accelerated so that each Optionee who maintains Continuous Status as an Employee
at the date of completion and perfectionoccurrence of an Acceleration Event shall
be deemed to have held each of his or her Options for a period which is 12 months longer
than the actual period during which the Optionee had actually held each Option, and the
amount of Shares exercisable in such an event shall be calculated accordingly. 

7

	 	12.3.2 	Upon
the occurrence of an Acceleration Event, the Company shall notify all Optionees of their
right to exercise their Options, and each Optionee shall be entitled to exercise their
Options, with regard to the amount of Shares exercisable under the Plan, including such
Shares exercisable due to the acceleration of the vesting process, within 15 days of such
notice, by way of sending a notice of exercise to the Company. 

	 	12.3.3 	The
right to exercise any portion of the Option granted which would not otherwise be
exercisable, is subject to the completion and perfection of any of the transactions
described under Section 12.3.1 above, including the attainment of all regulatory and any
other approval required under applicable law. It is specifically stated that in the event
that any of the transactions described under Section 12.3.1 above is not completed and
perfected for any reason whatsoever, such right shall be null and void. In such an event
the Optionee shall be entitled either to cancel his notice of exercise with respect to
all the stock exercised under the notice of exercise described in Section 12.3.2 above,
or exercise that part of the Optioned Stock which would have been exercisable by the
Optionee according to the terms of the Plan if the relevant Acceleration Event was not to
occur, or any part thereof. 

	 	12.3.4 	Cashless
Exercise: The Board at its sole discretion may determine that the exercise of the Option
in the events described in Sections 12.3.1(ii) and (iv) (in the event that the
consideration payable for the Shares purchasable under such transaction is for cash), may
be made by way of deduction of the Exercise Price from the price payable for the Shares
purchasable by the purchaser of the Shares which would be purchased under the terms of
such transaction. The Board shall be entitled to condition such form of exercise
described in this Section 12.3.4 on any terms it may deem fit in order to secure payment
of the exercise price of such Option. 

	13.  	Time
of Granting Options. The date of grant of an Option shall, for all
          purposes, be the date on which the Committee determines to grant such Option.
          Notice of the determination shall be given to each Employee or Consultant to
          whom an Option is so granted within a reasonable time after the date of such
          grant. 

	14.  	Amendment
and Termination of the Plan  

	 	14.1 	Amendment
and Termination. The Board may at any time amend, alter, suspend or discontinue the
Plan from time to time in such respects as the Board may deem advisable. 

8

	 	14.2 	Effect
of Amendment or Termination. Any such amendment or termination of the Plan shall not
affect Options already granted, and such Options shall remain in full force and effect as
if this Plan had not been amended or terminated, unless mutually agreed otherwise between
the Optionee and the Board, which agreement must be in writing and signed by the Optionee
and the Company. 

	15.  	Conditions
Upon Issuance of Shares. Shares shall not be issued pursuant           to the
exercise of an Option unless the exercise of such Option and the issuance           and
delivery of such Shares pursuant thereto shall comply with all relevant
          provisions of law, and the requirements of any stock exchange upon which the
          Shares may then be listed, and shall be further subject to the approval of
          counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance. 

	 	
As a condition to the exercise of an Option, the Company may require the person exercising
such Option to represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise that the Shares are
being purchased only for investment and without any present intention to sell or
distribute such Shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a
representation is required by any of the aforementioned relevant provisions of law.  

	16.  	Reservation
of Shares. The Company, during the term of this Plan, will at           all times
reserve and keep available such number of Shares as shall be           sufficient to
satisfy the requirements of the Plan. 

	 	
The
inability of the Company to obtain authority from any regulatory body having
jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Company’s counsel to be necessary to
the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, shall relieve the Company of any
liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such
requisite authority shall not have been obtained.  

	17.  	Agreements. Options
shall be evidenced by written agreements (an           “Option Agreement”) in
such form as the Committee shall approve from           time to time. 

	18.  	Shareholders
Approval  

	 	
The
Plan shall be subject to approval by the shareholders of the Company within twelve (12)
months before or after the date on which the first grant is made. To remove any doubt, if
the Plan is not approved by the Company’s shareholders within 12 months of the date
of grant it shall be deemed null and void and all Options granted under the Plan prior to
the date in which such approval was to be granted shall be invalidated and may not be
exercised under any circumstance. It is further clarified that shareholders approval is
condition precedent to the validity of each Option granted and no Optionee shall be
entitled to any right in lieu of any Option cancelled or invalidated as a result of
failure to obtain shareholder approval for the plan regardless of the reasons which
brought about such failure. No Option shall be exercisable until the Plan is approved by
the shareholders of the Company. 

9

	19.  	Governing
Law  

	 	
The
Plan and all instruments issued there under or in connection therewith shall be governed
by, and interpreted in accordance with, the Laws of the State of Israel. 

	20.  	Application
of funds  

	 	
The
proceeds received by the Company from the sale of shares pursuant to the Options granted
under the Plan will be used for general corporate purposes of the Company or any
Subsidiary thereof. 

	21.  	Tax
Consequences  

	 	
This
plan shall be governed by Section 102 of the Israeli Income Tax Ordinance [New version]
1961 and the rules promulgated there under. Any tax consequences arising from the grant or
the exercise of any Option, from payment for shares covered thereby or from any other
event or act (of the Company or the Optionee) hereunder, shall be borne solely by the
Optionee. Furthermore, the Optionee shall agree to indemnify the Company and the Trustee
and hold them harmless against and from any and all liability for any such tax or interest
or penalty. 

	 	
Notwithstanding
the provisions of the preceding paragraph the Board may determine with respect to each
grant and under its sole discretion that the Option granted under such grant shall not be
made in accordance with Section 102 described above, and determine the relevant taxation
mechanism with respect to each grant under Section 102 or otherwise (including any
alternative which may be available under the applicable tax laws at the time of grant).
Such determination shall be made with respect to the entire Plan (subject to applicable
law) or with respect to each particular grant by stating the same on the document of grant
furnished to each such Employee. 

10

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00095-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00095-of-00352.parquet"}]]