Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, has approved a law reinstating the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of murdering Israeli citizens. The legislation passed on Monday, March 30th with 62 of 120 deputies voting in favor, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Forty-eight deputies voted against, while the rest abstained or were absent.
The law, championed by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, makes hanging the default punishment for terrorist-motivated killings in the West Bank. He declared
Those who murder Jews will not continue to breathe and enjoy conditions in prison.
Ben-Gvir described the measure as a historic moment of justice and deterrence.
The law also allows civil courts in Israel to impose either the death penalty or life imprisonment for terrorist-motivated murders threatening the state. The same penalties would not apply to Israelis.
Germany, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom have expressed “deep concern,” describing the death penalty as an inhuman and ineffective punishment. Israeli rights organizations have filed petitions with the Supreme Court.
The Palestinian presidency condemned the law as a “war crime,” asserting it will not deter Palestinian people or undermine efforts toward statehood.
Israel abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1954, though it remained applicable in exceptional cases, such as Nazi crimes. The last execution under Israeli law was of Adolf Eichmann in 1962.
