Jewish Bill Championing Death Sentence Against Terrorism

On Wednesday, the 1st of March, the Israeli parliament formalized, in its prelusive reading, a Jewish bill to advocate the use of the death penalty in ‘terror’ cases.

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The bill passed the first reading in the Knesset despite widespread concerns raised by human rights groups and the UN.  The Jewish bill accredits the death penalty in cases where an Israeli citizen is killed in a ‘terrorist act’ by a Palestinian, but will not apply to an Israeli citizen committing the same crime against a Palestinian.

Israel grades resistance acts against its occupation as terrorism. The bill, backed by the government, secured 55 votes in favor of the bill in the 120-member legislature. A bulk of the opposition boycotted the litigation. It will now undergo a chain of readings in the Knesset.

Meanwhile, in Israel it was the Day of Disruption and the streets of Israel were crammed with chaotic scenes of protesters clashing with the police, which has gone viral, the Knesset made recent developments to tighten the Judiciary. First, Israeli legislators passed a reform that gave them a greater say in appointing judges. That decision has been met with a fierce opposition on the street and now the Israeli Parliament is laying the foundation of a fresh push for the death penalty of terrorists, who kill Israeli citizens.

The proposal passed a preliminary vote on Wednesday with the support of 55 lawmakers including the Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. Many from the opposition walked out. The Jewish bill has to be passed through the next three voting sessions to become a law.

What does the Jewish Bill state ?

Israel wants nothing less than the death penalty for those who attack Israeli citizens. The Jewish bill says, Someone who intentionally or out of indifference causes the death penalty of an Israeli citizen, when the act is carried out from a racist motive or a hate to a certain public and with the purpose of harming the state of Israel and the rebirth of the Jewish people in its homeland, will be awarded the death penalty.

The reports further said that the Jewish bill will be extended to the West Bank too. The legislation will curb terrorism. Capital punishment is already a part of Israel’s criminal court. The death penalty has been used for extremely rare cases. In 75 years, only two people have been executed by the state, One of them being ex-Nazi official Adolf Eichmann.

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Why is Israel keen to bring the Jewish Bill now ?

Tensions are being escalated in the West Bank. Earlier this week, an Israeli military raid in Nablus left 11 Israeli Palestinians dead. Many see the new proposal as Israel’s way of going after terrorist and that’s expected to raise the tensions further.

The world is calling for de-escalation. Germany has said that the death penalty goes against the rule of law. “The virtues that make us come together, is the safeguarding of the rule of law. Such as the independence of the judiciary. This has always been a hallmark of Israel. We are particularly pre-occupied about the plan to introduce the death penalty. We are formally opposed to it and we speak out about this all over the world.”

Public Reactions

Formally opposed to the death penalty, the Israelis have been out in the streets for weeks now. They’ve been protesting against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s judicial overhaul. On Wednesday, the country signed a National Disruption Day and it did see disruptions.

Tel Aviv witnessed dramatic scenes. Israeli police reportedly fired stunning grenades and dragged protesters off the road. The scenes are said to be unprecedented in the capital. Protesters say this is a fight against what they call Netanyahu’s dictatorship. Large scale protests are expected to escalate in Israel. The Prime Minister is determined to undertake reforms.

For Further References: www.asianatimes.com