Israel Passes Broad Death Penalty Law Targeting Terrorism, EU Condemns Move

(SeaPRwire) –   JERUSALEM: On Monday, the Israeli Parliament, known as the Knesset, approved legislation that institutes the death penalty for Palestinian individuals found guilty of lethal terrorist acts. This decision has drawn condemnation from European nations and an Israeli opposition figure.

The bill, put forward by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and his Otzma Yehudit party, passed with a 62-47 vote among legislators, establishing capital punishment by hanging.

Tzvika Foghel, an Otzma Yehudit legislator who heads the National Security Committee and guided the bill through it, informed Digital that the Israeli populace is weary of policies based on containment and compromise.

“For an excessive number of years, we have endeavored to appease the global community, even as our citizens were being killed in our streets. Following October 7, we have adopted a more assertive strategy to shape future realities,” he stated.

Foghel indicated that imposing the death penalty on terrorists is part of a wider transformation in Israel, stemming from the understanding that no other nation confronts a similar reality in combating radical Islamic terrorism across Gaza, Lebanon, Judea and Samaria (the West Bank), Yemen, and Iran.

“The capital punishment for terrorists who engaged in burning, raping, mutilating, and abusing children and parents mirrors the penalty we instituted for the Nazis,” he remarked.

Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, commented, “The EU maintains a fundamental stance opposing the death penalty in every situation and under all conditions. Israel had previously maintained an unofficial halt on both executions and death penalty sentences, thus setting an example in the region despite a challenging security landscape.”

She further stated, “The Israeli Parliament’s endorsement of the Death Penalty Bill represents a serious departure from this practice and from Israel’s prior commitments. We are profoundly troubled by the Bill’s inherent discriminatory nature.”

Historically, Israel has imposed the death penalty only once, on the Nazi mass murderer Adolf Eichmann in 1962. While capital punishment is legally codified in Israel, its courts possess restricted authority to apply executions to cases other than those involving Nazi war criminals.

Yair Lapid, a former Prime Minister and the current head of the centrist Yesh Atid party, asserted that the legislation is inherently defective as it does not cover Hamas terrorists implicated in the October 7, 2023 massacre, which resulted in 1,200 fatalities.

He added, “This law does not demonstrate strength; rather, it signals panic. It is more extreme than any similar legislation in the United States, and its proponents are aware it will be legally overturned. It serves neither justice nor deterrence, but rather public relations.”

Dan Illouz, a Likud legislator who backs the bill, informed Digital that, in his opinion, the October 7 events highlighted the necessity of preventing terrorists from perceiving civilian kidnappings as an effective method to secure the release of incarcerated militants.

He stated, “Capital punishment disrupts that dynamic. It functions as the supreme deterrent, guaranteeing that terrorists understand their deeds will result solely in their own end, not a negotiated freedom. We are a nation that cherishes life, but to safeguard it, we must act resolutely against those who aim to obliterate it.”

He further added, “Prime Minister Netanyahu’s affirmative vote was pivotal. It conveys an unequivocal message of power and moral conviction from the highest echelons of Israel’s leadership. By personally casting his ballot, the Prime Minister demonstrated to our adversaries, and to the global community, that our government is fully unified and unwavering in its determination to eliminate terrorism and protect our populace.”

Amit Segal, a political commentator for Israeli Channel 12, wrote that he endorses “executing terrorists who try to murder civilians — particularly those responsible for the October 7 atrocities,” yet he criticized Ben Gvir’s proposed law.

In his newsletter, he penned, “The legislation defines terrorism as actions ‘to negate the existence of the state,’ a definition potentially applicable to groups like extremist Haredi factions and aggressive members of the ‘Hilltop Youth’ (a group supported by Ben-Gvir).”

Segal noted that “while Ben-Gvir’s bill is largely a political maneuver, a more judicious piece of legislation is progressing through the system. This alternative, put forth by MKs Simcha Rotman and Yulia Malinovsky, outlines the practical procedures and evidentiary requirements to secure convictions for Nukhba terrorists, enabling the subsequent application of the death penalty.”

Amit Halevi, another Likud legislator, informed Digital that the core aspect of the legislation lies in differentiating between standard criminal offenses and crimes committed against the state or humanity.

He stated, “A terrorist perpetrates crimes as part of an ideology focused on killing, oppressing, and dominating all Jews. These terrorists, given the opportunity, would eliminate every one of us. They are ideological killers, distinct from common criminals, and this is a crucial element of the proposed law.”

Halevi further mentioned that additional endeavors are required to precisely define crimes against the state, specifying what actions fall under this classification and what do not.

He concluded, “Broadly speaking, this legislation represents a positive stride. A significant portion of the criticism I encounter pertains to ordinary criminals. People fail to comprehend the adversary — their identity and the nature of this conflict.”