Israel Advances Controversial Death Penalty Bill Targeting Terrorism

Israel's parliament has passed the first reading of a bill proposing the death penalty for those it deems to be terrorists acting against the state - a requirement which means it is likely to be used only against Palestinians convicted of deadly attacks on Israelis.The far-right National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir - whose Jewish Power party brought the vote - celebrated late on Monday by handing out sweets after the bill was approved in the 120-seat Knesset by 39 votes to 16.After the law is finally passed - terrorists will only be released to hell, he said. The bill must pass two more readings before becoming law.In the same session, the Knesset also approved the first reading of another controversial bill allowing the Israeli government to close a foreign media outlet without court approval. That vote was 50 in favor and 41 against.The legislation aims to turn a temporary order that allowed the closure of Qatari-owned Al Jazeera in May 2024 into a permanent law. It has been opposed by the government's legal advisers.While the death penalty does exist for a small number of crimes in Israel, it has only been used twice since 1948 when the state was created. The last time was when the Nazi war criminal, Adolf Eichmann, was hanged in 1962, following a public trial.An amendment to the penal code was demanded by the Jewish Power party and signed off by the Knesset's National Security Committee, which stated its intent to nip terrorism in the bud and create a weighty deterrent.The proposed law targets terrorists convicted of murder motivated by racism or hatred towards the public, intending to harm the State of Israel and the rebirth of the Jewish nation in its homeland, with mandatory death sentences. This clause underscores the likelihood that Palestinians convicted of deadly attacks, rather than Jewish Israelis, will face death sentences.The proposal has been condemned by the Palestinian Authority, describing it as a new form of escalating Israeli extremism and criminality against the Palestinian people.Ben-Gvir had long advocated for the execution bill but faced resistance from Israeli political leaders concerned about implications for negotiations regarding living hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. Following the recent hostage exchange, this barrier appears removed as the Israeli government prepares to push forward with the legislation.Critics, including Palestinian human rights organizations, warn that the law, if enacted, could lead to retroactive applications, threatening hundreds of Palestinian detainees.Additionally, any individual linked to the Hamas assaults on October 7, 2023, could face death if apprehended. Advocates of the law argue it is necessary for national security, seeking to deter future attacks while critics highlight the moral implications and potential for exacerbating violence in an already tense situation.