By SCM Reporter, Jerusalem
ISRAEL has sensationally voted to bring back the death penalty for Palestinian terrorists who kill its citizens.
In a move that has sparked a global firestorm, the Israeli parliament—the Knesset—passed the hardline law tonight with a 62-48 majority.
The draconian new rules mean any “terrorist” convicted of a lethal attack on an Israeli could now face the GALLOWS.
Firebrand National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who spearheaded the bill, celebrated the victory by declaring the “rules of the game” had changed forever.
He said: “Today, the State of Israel changes the rules: anyone who murders Jews will no longer breathe freely.”
The law, backed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition, makes execution by hanging the default sentence for West Bank attackers.
Under the new “Eye for an Eye” legislation:
HANGING: Convicts will be executed by the short drop within 90 days of sentencing.
NO MERCY: There is NO right to clemency or a pardon from the President.
VIDEO LINKS: Prisoners will be kept in isolation with legal visits done only via video link.
MAJORITY VOTE: Military courts no longer need a unanimous decision to send a killer to the gallows—a simple majority will do.
The Knesset erupted into cheers as the final vote was tallied, with some MPs seen wiping away tears of joy.
But the move has sparked a massive backlash from world leaders and human rights groups. The EU slammed the move as a “grave step backward,” while the UN warned it violates the “right to life.”
Why now?
Israel has had the death penalty on its books since its founding in 1948, but it has almost never been used.
The only person ever executed by the state was Nazi mastermind Adolf Eichmann, who was hanged in 1962 for his role in the Holocaust. For decades, Israel has maintained a “de facto” moratorium on the death penalty, usually opting for life imprisonment for even the most brutal terror attacks.
However, after a surge in violence and pressure from far-right parties in Netanyahu’s government, the “Noose Law” was put on the fast track. Critics argue it will only fuel more violence, while supporters say it is the only way to truly deter “lone wolf” attackers.
The SCM Says: This is a gamble with the highest possible stakes in the world’s most volatile region.
