Israelās parliament has approved a controversial law introducing the death penalty as the default sentence for Palestinians convicted of deadly terror attacks.
The legislation passed its third and final reading in the Knesset on Monday by 62 votes to 48, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voting in support.
Under the new law, Palestinians convicted in Israeli military courts of carrying out deadly attacks classified as āacts of terrorismā would be executed by hanging within 90 days, with a possible delay of up to 180 days.
Although the law theoretically applies to Jewish Israelis, it is unlikely to be enforced in such cases, as executions can only be carried out where the intent of the attack is to ānegate the existence of the state of Israelā.
The bill was strongly backed by far-right figures, particularly National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who led efforts to secure its passage. Following the vote, he wrote on X: āWe made history!!! We promised. We delivered.ā
Supporters argue the law is necessary to deter attacks. Limor Son-Har-Melech, a member of Ben-Gvirās party who survived a Palestinian gun attack that killed her husband, cited the release of one of the attackers, who later took part in the 7 October 2023 attacks.
During the debate, she said: āFor years, we endured a cruel cycle of terror, imprisonment, release in reckless deals, and the return of these human monsters to murder Jews again.ā
Opposition figures, however, criticised the law as ineffective and politically motivated. Yair Golan, leader of the Democrats party, warned it could trigger international consequences.
āThe death penalty law for terrorists is an unnecessary piece of legislation designed to get Ben-Gvir more likes,ā he said. āIt does not contribute one ounce to Israelās security.ā
The law has also drawn strong international criticism. On the eve of the vote, the UK, France, Germany and Italy expressed their ādeep concernā, warning that the bill risks āundermining Israelās commitments with regard to democratic principlesā.
The Palestinian Authority condemned the move, stating it āseeks to legitimise extrajudicial killing under legislative coverā.
Hamas also reacted, saying the law āthreatens the livesā of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails and urging the international community to āensure the protection of our prisonersā.
Legal challenges are already underway. The Association for Civil Rights in Israel has petitioned the Supreme Court, arguing: āThe law is unconstitutional, discriminatory by design and ā for West Bank Palestinians ā enacted without legal authority.ā
The court will now decide whether to hear the case.
Israel has carried out only two executions in its history, including that of Nazi official Adolf Eichmann, a key figure in the Holocaust.
(BBC News)
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