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The Israeli Parliament yesterday, passed a contentious law that allows the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of lethal attacks, raising alarm among Palestinian communities and drawing sharp criticism from the international community, which views the move as a further entrenchment of what many rights organizations label as Israel’s “system of apartheid.”
The legislation, which notably excludes Jewish citizens of Israel, was celebrated by supporters within the country’s far-right factions.
France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom have all expressed deep concerns regarding the overtly discriminatory nature of the bill, which appears to specifically target Palestinians. In a joint statement released on Sunday, the foreign ministries of these nations emphasized, “We are particularly worried about the de facto discriminatory character of the bill. The adoption of this bill would risk undermining Israel’s commitments to democratic principles.”
Human rights advocates have also condemned the legislation. Amnesty International previously stated that the law would turn the death penalty into “another discriminatory tool in Israel’s system of apartheid.”
Human Rights Watch (HRW) today, echoed these sentiments, labeling the law as biased since it would predominantly apply to Palestinians. Adam Coogle, HRW’s deputy Middle East director, remarked, “Israeli officials argue that imposing the death penalty is about security, but in reality, it entrenches discrimination and a two-tiered system of justice, both hallmarks of apartheid.”
Coogle further criticized the bill, describing the death penalty as “irreversible and cruel,” and noted that its stringent appeal process and rapid execution timeline aim to expedite the execution of Palestinian detainees with minimal oversight.
Under the new law, anyone convicted of murdering an Israeli citizen in the occupied West Bank will automatically face a death sentence imposed by the military courts that govern the area.
While these courts typically do not release detailed statistics on convictions, they did acknowledge in 2010 that 99.74 percent of Palestinians tried for offenses in the occupied territory were found guilty.
In contrast, Israel’s civilian courts are afforded greater discretion when sentencing Israelis convicted of killing Palestinians in the West Bank. Judges have the option to impose either the death penalty or life imprisonment.
For military courts handling Palestinian cases, however, the death penalty is mandatory, with life sentences only available under exceptional circumstances.
Despite the backlash, lawmakers celebrated the bill’s successful passage through parliament. The legislation’s chief advocate, far-right National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, who has a history of far-right extremism, was seen toasting with champagne amidst jubilant colleagues.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who attended the session to support the legislation, was also spotted congratulating lawmakers on their achievement.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong