The Israeli parliament has just advanced two controversial bills.
One of the bills that passed its first reading on Monday proposes the death penalty for those it deems to be ‘terrorists’ acting against the state.
The bill, which has been condemned by the Palestinian Authority and human rights groups, was backed in the 120-seat Knesset by 39 votes to 16.
Far-right National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, whose Jewish Power party brought the vote, celebrated by handing out sweets.
He said: “After the law is finally passed – terrorists will only be released to hell”
In the same session the Knesset also approved the first reading of the foreign media bill….this would allow the Israeli government to shut down foreign media outlets without a court order.
CNN reports: The death penalty bill, championed by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, passed its first reading by 39 votes to 16. It now moves to a parliamentary committee for further debate and preparation ahead of the second and third readings.
Ben Gvir has argued the measure would “create substantial deterrence” against terrorism and he threatened to withdraw his party from Israel’s coalition government if the bill was not put to a vote.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously opposed the bill, citing concerns over potential retaliation against Israeli hostages held in Gaza. However, he has since reversed his stance following the implementation of a fragile ceasefire.
Israel currently allows the death penalty only in exceptional cases, including for crimes such as treason and war crimes committed under the Nazi regime, but it has not been used for decades.
The only person ever executed in Israel was Adolf Eichmann, a key architect of the Holocaust, who was hanged in 1962 after he famously was captured by Israeli intelligence agents in Argentina and subsequently convicted in a landmark trial.
Before Monday’s vote, Ben Gvir declared on X that “History will judge anyone who dares today to raise a finger against the death penalty law for terrorists.”
The bill also amends the military courts law, with jurisdiction over the occupied West Bank, allowing courts there to impose the death penalty by a simple majority vote on the judge’s panel instead of a unanimous vote. It also rules out any option of allowing extenuating circumstances in the sentencing. Palestinians in the West Bank are subject to military law, while Israeli settlers are subject to Israeli civilian law.
The UN has previously condemned Israel’s military courts in the occupied West Bank, saying that “Palestinians’ right to due process guarantees have been violated” for decades, and denounced “the lack of fair trial in the occupied West Bank.”
UN experts said last year that, “in the occupied West Bank, the functions of police, investigator, prosecutor, and judge are vested in the same hierarchical institution – the Israeli military.”