The Israeli Parliament approved a law that allows the death penalty to be applied to people convicted of deadly attacks classified as terrorism, a decision that intensifies political tension in the midst of a regional conflict with Iran and its allies.
The standard was endorsed with 62 votes in favor and 48 againstwith the support of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the impetus of the Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, a figure of the Israeli radical right.
You may also be interested in: Washington proposes the ‘Greater North America’ and redefines the Global South
The text establishes that whoever causes the death of an Israeli citizen or resident with the purpose of harming the State may receive a capital sentence or life imprisonment. In the case of the Palestinians Occupied West Bankthe death penalty is emerging as the default punishment when a military court classifies the events as terrorism, which reactivated questions about the coexistence of different judicial systems for Israeli settlers and Palestinian population since the occupation that began in 1967.
Human rights organizations and Palestinian authorities described the legislation as discriminatory. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Palestinian Authority stated that the norm seeks to “legitimize extrajudicial executions under the protection of legislation.” Amnesty International previously argued that the project would allow the use of the death penalty to be expanded with a disproportionate application against Palestinians.
The legislation provides for hanging as a method of execution, with a period of up to 90 days after the sentence, extendable for 180 days in special circumstances. Israel has maintained a de facto moratorium since 1962, when Nazi criminal Adolf Eichmann was executed, the only case in the country’s modern history.
Trump threatens Iranian island
Donald Trump warned that he could “destroy completely” the Iranian island of Jark, a terminal that concentrates 90% of the country’s oil exports, if an agreement is not reached that allows the Strait of Hormuz to be reopened, through which a significant part of the world’s hydrocarbon trade circulates. The conflict raised the price of Brent crude oil above $115 and raised alerts about possible increases.
Iran responded with attacks on US-linked positions in the region and approved measures to impose tolls or restrict ship transit in Hormuz. In Lebanon, the Israeli offensive against Hezbollah has left more than 1,200 dead.
Leave a Reply