Critics Claim that the Punishment Will Be Applied Almost Exclusively to Palestinians | DW News
Why It Matters
The legislation threatens Israel’s democratic credibility and could isolate it diplomatically, while legal challenges may prevent disproportionate application against Palestinians.
Key Takeaways
- •Israeli Knesset passed mandatory death penalty for terrorism.
- •Critics say law will target Palestinians, not Israeli citizens.
- •International allies warn it harms Israel's democratic reputation.
- •Security chiefs and scholars argue death penalty doesn’t deter terrorism.
- •Likely legal challenge; Supreme Court may strike discriminatory provisions.
Summary
Israel’s parliament voted to make hanging the default punishment for terrorism, extending the death penalty to all convictions in military courts. The measure, championed by the far‑right National Security Minister, follows a surge in public support after the Oct 7 Hamas attacks and reflects a broader right‑wing shift.
Critics—including Germany, France, the UK and Israeli security chiefs—warn the law will mainly affect Palestinians in the occupied territories, arguing it undermines democratic norms and lacks deterrent effect. Opinion polls show a majority of Jewish Israelis back the change, while the security establishment and criminology research contend capital punishment does not curb terror.
Professor Barack Medina of the Max Planck Center called the bill “outside the liberal democratic world” and predicted the Supreme Court will strike its discriminatory provisions. He noted the law differentiates between Israeli citizens and Palestinians, a distinction previously deemed unconstitutional.
If upheld, the policy could deepen Israel’s diplomatic isolation and fuel accusations of apartheid, while a court reversal may preserve the status quo of rarely used death sentences. The debate underscores the tension between populist security demands and Israel’s democratic and international standing.
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