Israel Approves Death Penalty for Palestinians Convicted of Deadly Attacks

The Israeli parliament passed a law imposing the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of carrying out deadly terror attacks. The bill, which was sponsored by the Jewish Power party and Likud lawmaker Nissim Vaturi, passed with 62 votes in favor and 48 against.Designed to target Palestinians only, the bill states that a death penalty will be imposed on a terrorist who carried out a deadly action “with the intent to deny the existence of the State of Israel.”A person convicted of such a crime will be hanged. A judge can, however, sentence the person to life in prison instead if they find “special reasons” or if “special circumstances” exist.Jewish Power party leader and National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, celebrated the passing of the bill with champagne in the Knesset hallways. “This is a day of justice for the victims and a day of deterrence for our enemies. No more revolving door for terrorists, but a clear decision. Whoever chooses terrorism chooses death,” he said. “The State of Israel is changing the rules of the game today: whoever murders Jews will not continue to breathe and enjoy conditions in prison. This is a day of justice for the victims and a day of deterrence for our enemies,” Mr. Ben-Gvir added. Several leading authorities in Israel voiced opposition and criticism during a panel discussion at the National Security Committee, including Justice Ministry representative attorney Lilach Wagner, IDF representatives and the National Security Council, according to Ha’aretz Daily. The bill was also harshly criticised by opposition lawmakers, the Palestinian Authority and human rights groups. “This law is not merely a punitive measure — it is an official declaration of the institutionalization of apartheid and racism, and the transformation of the legal system into yet another tool in the violent political repression of the Palestinian people,” the Arab parties Hadash–Ta’al said following the passing of the bill. Yair Golan, leader of the Democratic Party, called it an “unnecessary law” that doesn’t contribute to Israel’s security.“Because of the madness of Netanyahu, Ben Gvir, and the extremists, we are racing toward international sanctions that will harm the economy, science, and the entire country,” Mr. Golan said. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry accused the Israeli judicial system and the Knesset of being “nothing but tools in the hands of the occupation to perpetuate crimes against the Palestinian people, ensuring impunity for Israeli war criminals.” “This law constitutes, in its essence, a decision for institutionalized field execution according to racist standards, reflecting clear intentions to commit war crimes and crimes against humanity, added to the crimes of genocide committed in the Gaza Strip, extending to the occupied West Bank including Jerusalem, and their direct repercussions on our valiant prisoners, who are arbitrarily detained, and an official declaration of adopting killing as a politicized tool within the occupation system, and collective punishment,” the ministry added. The Association for Civil Rights in Israel meanwhile filed a petition against the bill, saying it creates an “inverse relationship between the severity of the death penalty and the ease with which it can be imposed.” France, Italy, Germany and Britain said they were “particularly worried about the de facto discriminatory character of the bill,” ahead of its passing on Monday. “The adoption of this bill would risk undermining Israel’s commitments to democratic principles,” the foreign ministers of the four European countries said in a statement. The death penalty has only been imposed twice in Israel’s history. In 1948, Israel Defense Forces captain Meir Tobianski was charged with treason and executed by a firing squad shortly after being found guilty. Mr. Tobiansky was later exonerated for his crimes as the evidence against him was found to be insufficient. The second death penalty was imposed against top Nazi officer, Adolf Eichmann, in 1962 for his crimes against Jews in the Holocaust.

Israel Approves Death Penalty for Palestinians Convicted of Deadly Attacks

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