Israeli parliament advances bill on death penalty for ‘terrorists’

Israel’s parliament on Monday passed a bill in its first reading introducing the death penalty for “terrorists” driven by “racist” motives and the intent to harm the Jewish state.

The draft legislation, spearheaded by National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and his far-right Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party, applies to “terrorists” who kill Israelis and harm “the State of Israel and the revival of the Jewish people in its land.”

“Its purpose is to cut off terrorism at its root and create a heavy deterrent,” the security committee said in a statement that also explains the bill.

The legislation allows judges serving on military courts in the West Bank to hand out death sentences with a simple majority rather than a unanimous decision. The military courts in the area have authority only over Palestinians, while Jewish settlers are subject to civilian judiciary. It also strips regional military commanders of powers to commute such sentences.