In a rare display of unity, Arab members voted alongside right-wing and religious Jewish parties in favour of the bill.

The vote brought Tehran and Jerusalem closer

Eliezer Zandberg, Shinui party

The measure tightens a loophole in the law after television channels were prohibited from transmitting pornography last year.

Until now, cable and satellite companies had still been able to offer pornographic material on pay-per-view television.

Religious members of the Knesset argued that pornography was based on the exploitation of women and children and encouraged slave trade in women.

National Religious Party (NRP) member Zevulun Orlev, who sponsored the bill, said the measure was not "religious, but cultural and social".

'State censorship'

Left-wing and secular parties condemned the move, saying the law was tantamount to state censorship.

Eliezer Zandberg, of the secular Shinui party, said the law "brought Tehran and Jerusalem closer", referring to state control of the media in Iran.

Only three women voted in favour of the bill, while four others opposed it.

The Knesset rejected a proposed amendment to the bill which would have allowed pornography to be broadcast at certain times.

The new law will, however, allow pornographic material to be shown if it has a cultural, scientific or journalistic value, although it does not stipulate who would decide.