Israel changes rules, attacks can end in death penalty

Israel has taken a significant legislative step that may fundamentally affect the handling of security incidents. Parliament has passed a law making the death penalty the standard punishment for Palestinians convicted by military courts of fatal attacks.

The move fulfils promises made by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing allies, who have long pushed for tougher action against perpetrators of violence. But it also raises questions about its implications - not only for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but also for international relations and Israel's human rights record.

According to the information available, this is a measure that can be seen as a significant tightening of the existing system of punishment. It is not yet clear how often the death penalty will be applied or what legal mechanisms will accompany its implementation.

(reuters)