Netanyahu supports bill imposing death penalty for terrorists

The Israeli Parliamentary Committee on National Security has pushed forward a bill that would allow the death penalty to be imposed for nationally motivated murders of Israeli citizens, reports the Times of Israel.

The bill has also been supported by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as confirmed by the government coordinator for hostages, Gal Hirsch.

He had originally rejected the bill until all living hostages had been returned from the Gaza Strip. The bill was introduced by Limor Son Har-Melech, a member of the right-wing Otzma Yehudit party.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir insists that the courts should not be able to decide on the imposition of the penalty – in his opinion, it should be imposed automatically.

Critics warn of selective application: the law would not apply to Israelis who kill Palestinians. The bill could be put to a vote in the plenary session as early as Wednesday.

(mja)