The Israeli parliament, the Knesset, has advanced two contentious bills. The first, passing its initial reading with 39 votes to 16, introduces the death penalty for those labeled as terrorists against the state. Sponsored by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir of the Jewish Power party, it seeks to deter terrorism. Ben-Gvir celebrated the vote, declaring terrorists would meet their end. Previously opposed by Prime Minister Netanyahu over hostage concerns, the bill now has his support post-ceasefire. Israel's death penalty is rare, last used on Adolf Eichmann in 1962. The bill alters West Bank military courts, allowing majority votes for death sentences without extenuating factors. Palestinians under military law face UN-condemned due process violations. Additionally, a bill was approved to permit government shutdown of foreign media without courts, sparking rights concerns.
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.”