The Knesset passed the law in final readings on Monday evening, with 62 lawmakers in favor, 48 against, and one abstention, according to research. The legislation mandates that executions be carried out by hanging within 90 days of sentencing. According to major media reports, the law applies only to Palestinians and not to Israelis, effectively creating a discriminatory system.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived at the Knesset to vote in favor of the controversial legislation, openly showing his support, research indicates. The law was proposed by the far-right party Otzma Yehudit and its leader, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. Ben-Gvir has pushed for the legislation since the start of his tenure as national security minister, repeatedly stating that its passage was a condition of Otzma Yehudit’s coalition agreement with Netanyahu, research shows. According to its proponents, the bill would act as a deterrent against terror and serve a measure of justice for victims of terrorism.
The bill stipulates that a terrorist who intentionally kills a person as part of an act of terrorism will be sentenced to death, according to research. From the outset, Ben-Gvir wanted an automatic death penalty for terrorism convictions, and that was the outline passed in the first reading, research indicates. The revised version stipulates that a judge would decide between capital punishment and life in prison, research shows. Under the current outline, the execution would be implemented within a defined time frame of up to 90 days from the time of the sentence.
Terrorists from the West Bank, however, would still get the automatic death penalty, barring specific appeals, research indicates. The legislation has undergone several changes in recent weeks to soften some of its technical aspects, following criticism that certain provisions were too harsh or unrealistic, research shows. The bill had also originally proposed carrying out executions by lethal injection before switching to hanging, research indicates.
Discussions on the bill have been held in the plenum from the morning ahead of its second and third readings, research shows. The bill passed in its first reading in January and has been debated in the Knesset National Security Committee since, research indicates. Yisrael Beytenu Party leader Avigdor Liberman voted in favor of the bill after his stance had been unclear, research shows. On Sunday, it was reported that his party would only vote in favor of the bill if Netanyahu and Arye Deri, leader of the Shas Party, arrived to vote, research indicates.
Strong opposition to the bill has also come from lawmakers within the Arab parties in the Knesset, research indicates. Ben-Gvir has clashed with them on numerous occasions as the bill was being developed, research shows.
apartheid imposed by a noose
The law does not apply retroactively to current prisoners, including those from the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, according to major media reports. Israeli military courts, which try only Palestinians, have a 96% conviction rate, major media reports indicate.
Amnesty International has condemned the law, calling it 'apartheid imposed by a noose' and part of a campaign to eliminate Palestinians. The European Union, UK, Germany, France, and Italy have expressed deep concern or condemned the law, warning it undermines democratic principles, according to EU and European governments.
The law has been appealed to Israel's Supreme Court by opposition and human rights groups, major media reports indicate. Israel's observer status at the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly could be suspended over the law, according to major media reports.
Specific legal mechanisms or criteria defining 'nationalistically motivated murders' or 'terrorism' under this law remain unclear. It is also unknown how many Palestinians are currently facing charges that could lead to the death penalty under this new law, or what the detailed procedures for appeals and Supreme Court reviews of death penalty sentences will entail.
Beyond the expressed concerns from European countries, the full impact on international diplomatic and economic relations is uncertain. The exact timeline for the first potential execution under this law, given the 90-day window and appeals process, has not been specified.
In unrelated news, a fatal car accident occurred on Highway 56 near Bie, Katrineholm, involving two cars, with four people taken to hospital, police said. A woman in her 70s was found dead in Lund, and a man related to her has been arrested on suspicion of murder or manslaughter, according to police. A man from western Sweden has been charged with threatening Green Party spokesperson Amanda Lind on Facebook, major media reports indicate. Stockholm's stock exchange rose after comments from Donald Trump, according to major media reports.