Opponents worry the bill will unfairly target Palestinians.
The Israeli Knesset, on Monday, gave initial approval to a bill proposing the death penalty for individuals deemed “terrorists” who are motivated by “racist” ideologies and seek to undermine Israel.
The bill, championed by National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir of the far-right Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party, targets “terrorists” responsible for the deaths of Israelis and for actions detrimental to “the State of Israel and the revival of the Jewish people in its land.”
According to a statement from the security committee explaining the bill, “Its goal is to eliminate terrorism at its source and serve as a strong deterrent.”
The proposed law would empower military court judges in the West Bank to impose death sentences with a simple majority, rather than requiring unanimity. These military courts currently only have jurisdiction over Palestinians, while Jewish settlers are tried in civilian courts. The bill would also remove the authority of regional military commanders to reduce such sentences.
Ben Gvir’s bill passed with 39 votes in favor and 16 against in the 120-seat Knesset, with the opposition largely abstaining from the vote. It will now go to committee for review before needing to pass two more votes to become law.
Detractors of the bill caution that its enactment could increase international pressure on Israel and incite further violence, rather than deterring it. Some view the bill as discriminatory, suggesting it would apply only to Palestinian perpetrators and not Jewish ones. Critics also note that the bill currently seems limited to crimes against Jewish Israelis, potentially excluding Arab citizens.
Hamas has already condemned the bill, stating that it “embodies the ugly fascist face of the rogue Zionist occupation and represents a blatant violation of international law.” The Palestinian Authority’s Foreign Ministry echoed this sentiment, describing it as a “new form of escalating Israeli extremism and criminality against the Palestinian people.”
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