The Israeli Parliament, the Knesset, has narrowly approved a controversial bill allowing the death penalty to be used against Palestinians convicted of who aimed at “ending Israel’s existence”. The vote was 62 in favour to 47 against. It has been approved following a long debate.
The law, which has the full support of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, mandates a death sentence as the maximum punishment for such offences, particularly when the perpetrators are Palestinians from the occupied territories and stand trial in military courts.
According to the new legislation, execution by hanging will be the mandatory sentence in most cases, except in circumstances where a military judge finds special reasons to impose a lighter penalty such as life imprisonment. There are indications that the law also restricted mercy. This is the first time that Israel’s application of capital punishment has changed significantly.
The law has been praised by its supporters as necessary to deter future terrorist attacks and to deliver justice to the victims. Mr. Ben-Gvir, who has been advocating for a harsher policy toward Palestinian perpetrators of violence, argues that this will enhance security.
However, the law has been met with a wave of condemnations from opposition parties, legal analysts and human rights organisations, which claim it could lead to a more unequal legal system and will disproportionately affect Palestinians. Many experts have raised concerns that while Israeli citizens are tried in civilian courts with an independent system of justice, Palestinians in the occupied territories stand trial in military courts.
The Palestinian Authority has condemned the law and cautioned that it might escalate tension further, potentially leading to more instability. European countries and international bodies have also warned that the law could exacerbate divisions between Israelis and Palestinians. It is expected that the law will face legal challenges with opposition lawmakers preparing petitions to the Israeli Supreme Court.
It is worth noting that although the death penalty is technically possible in Israel under certain circumstances, it has only been carried out once on April 15, 1962 against the Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann. The law’s passage may well be the most significant change in Israel’s criminal justice system in many years, highlighting the complex issue of the death penalty and legal equality.
