Overview
- Lawmaker approval by 39–16 advanced a government-backed plan to reinstate capital punishment under narrowly defined terrorism-related murder offenses.
- The draft requires death sentences for those who kill Israelis out of racist motives or with intent to harm the State of Israel and the rebirth of the Jewish people in its land.
- Proposals tied to the bill would allow West Bank military courts to impose death sentences by simple majority and would remove regional commanders’ power to commute them.
- Most opposition parties voted against or largely boycotted the session, with Yisrael Beytenu an exception, and the Degel HaTorah faction directed members to oppose.
- Critics say the measure would fall mainly on Palestinian perpetrators and conflict with legal and religious norms in a country that ended capital punishment for murder in 1954 and last executed a prisoner in 1962.