Israel's parliament, the Knesset, voted on Monday to reinstate the death penalty by hanging as the default punishment for West Bank Palestinians convicted of murdering Israeli citizens. The bill was passed with 62 votes out of 120 lawmakers, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, marking a significant victory for far-right parties whose support is crucial for the ruling coalition. The move underscores the growing influence of ultranationalist factions in Israeli politics.

Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, a West Bank settler whose ultranationalist party introduced the bill, declared: "The State of Israel is changing the rules of the game today. Those who murder Jews will not continue to breathe and enjoy conditions in prison. This is a day of justice for the murdered, a day of deterrence for enemies." Ben-Gvir has notably popularized the measure by wearing a noose pinned to his lapel, with images of celebrations in parliament widely circulated in Israeli media.

The legislation is expected to face legal challenges in Israel's Supreme Court. It has been strongly condemned by both Israeli and Palestinian human rights groups, who label it as racist and draconian. Critics argue that the law is unlikely to deter attacks by Palestinian militants and that Israel lacks sovereign jurisdiction over the occupied Palestinian territories, raising questions about its legality under international law.

The Palestinian presidency condemned the law as "amounting to a war crime" and asserted it would not break the Palestinian people's will for independence. Within Israel, opposition lawmaker Gilad Kariv called the law "a stain on our image and our values," while the Association for Civil Rights in Israel has already filed a petition to the Supreme Court. Legal experts suggest the court may rule the amended death penalty law unconstitutional, highlighting deep societal and judicial divisions over this controversial measure.

Source: www.dw.com