Tel Aviv: The Knesset has passed a contentious law permitting the execution of Palestinians accused of carrying out attacks against Israeli soldiers or civilians, marking a significant and controversial shift in the country’s legal framework. The legislation, backed by far-right allies of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was approved with 62 votes in the 120-member parliament on Monday.
The law mandates capital punishment for individuals accused of committing killings aimed at undermining the existence of Israel. In effect, the legislation will disproportionately target Palestinians and Arabs (residing in Israel) while excluding Jewish perpetrators from facing the same punishment under similar circumstances. The measure introduces strict provisions, including execution within 90 days of sentencing and the denial of clemency options for those condemned.
The move is expected to have serious implications for Palestinians facing trial, particularly in military courts in the occupied West Bank, where legal safeguards are already widely contested. Observers warn that the introduction of such a penalty under these conditions could significantly escalate tensions and deepen existing grievances.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the law, stating that it violates international legal norms and will not deter the Palestinian struggle. Armed groups, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, have called for strong retaliation, raising concerns over further instability in the region.
The legislation has also drawn sharp criticism internationally. Governments of the United Kingdom, France and Germany warned that the law undermines democratic principles and introduces discriminatory legal standards. Human rights organisations within Israel have already moved the Supreme Court, challenging its legality.
Israel largely abolished the death penalty in 1954 and has used it only in exceptional cases. Since its establishment, only two executions have been carried out, including that of Adolf Eichmann in 1960. The new law marks a dramatic departure from decades of restraint, reintroducing capital punishment into a deeply contested political and legal landscape.