Israel has only twice used the death penalty against a convicted prisoner, with the last execution occurring more than sixty years ago when Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann was hanged.
Since the October 7th Hamas-led attacks, referred to as Israel's deadliest day, a controversial proposal has emerged to reinstate the death penalty specifically for Palestinians convicted of fatal terrorist against Israelis. This legislation has ignited fierce debates across the nation.
It's another brick in the wall of our defence, stated Zvika Fogel, chair of the parliamentary national security committee. He asserted that bringing in the death penalty is both a moral imperative and a protective measure. Conversely, human rights groups have condemned the bill as excessively extreme, arguing that it could lead to a form of racialized capital punishment.
There have been several public hearings on this proposed law, featuring testimonies from families affected by violence and representatives from various sectors, including rabbis and legal experts. Dr. Valentina Gusak, a bereaved mother supporting the bill, emphasized its preventive aspect, thinking it could have saved her daughter, Margarita, from being killed during the October attacks.
Meanwhile, legislative opponents, such as Arab-Israeli parliamentarian Aida Touma-Suleiman, have condemned the proposal on ethical grounds, emphasizing that it runs counter to both international laws and Israeli values. Observers indicate that the political motivations behind this push for capital punishment are also linked to electoral dynamics.
The bill stipulates that mandatory death sentences in military courts would apply uniquely to Palestinians from the occupied West Bank. Critics warn that the law disproportionately targets Palestinians while exempting Jewish offenders, deepening the existing disparities in the justice system.
In light of these events, public sentiment appears to be shifting towards endorsing harsher punitive measures. As debates continue, the society grapples with the implications this legislation may have on the long-standing conflict and the ethical fabric of Israeli democracy.
