Israeli execution bill clears first vote in parliament

A bill that would impose the death penalty on Palestinian “terrorists” has passed its first reading in parliament in Israel, according to France 24 with AFP on November 10th.

Under this proposed amendment to the penal code, Palestinians convicted of killing Israelis on “nationalistic grounds” would face execution, although Israelis convicted of killing Palestinians for similar reasons would seemingly be exempt from the legislation.

The bill was pushed through the Knesset’s National Security Committee on November 3rd, with National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir serving as an advocate for the legislation. The Committee approved the bill by a vote of 39 to 16 on November 10th, although two subsequent readings are still required.

A statement from the committee said that the bill’s “purpose is to cut off terrorism at its root and create a heavy deterrent.”

The statement continued: “It is proposed that a terrorist convicted of murder motivated by racism or hatred towards the public, and under circumstances where the act was committed with the intent to harm the State of Israel… will be sentenced to the death penalty – mandatory.”

Ben-Gvir is the leader of the Otzma Yehudit (“Jewish Power”) party, and had reportedly threatened to withdraw his party from the governing coalition if the bill is not voted on. He previously left his role in Israel’s government over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s announcement of a ceasefire with Hamas, only to ultimately rejoin.

He has a history of anti-Palestinian views, including his support for the since-banned Kach movement as a teenager; Ben-Gvir has been known to glorify Israeli terrorists,  such as, allegedly, the murderer Baruch Goldstein. In 2024, Ben-Gvir’s department was accused of illegally distributing weapons licenses to Jewish settlers in the Occupied West Bank.

It was reported on October 29th, that Ben-Gvir was reportedly one of 55 Israeli politicians who signed a letter urging Israeli President Isaac Herzog to pardon Israelis convicted of killing Palestinians. One such prisoner some Israelis were calling for the release of was Amiram Ben-Uliel, who was convicted in 2020 of a firebombing that killed three people, including an 18-month-old baby, and left a four-year-old with serious burns.

Speaking about the Israeli prisoners, fellow Jewish Power politician, Limor Son Har-Melech, said during an interview with Ynet: “There is no moral justification for keeping Jews in prison who, even if they made a mistake, pose no danger to the public.”

Alongside Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Ben-Gvir was sanctioned by several nations, including Britain, over his open contempt for Palestinian life.

France 24 with AFP, Middle East Eye via Ynet, Maghrebi.org