The Parliament of Israel (Knesset) voted the bill of the far-right Minister of National Defence, Itamar Ben-Gvir, which allows the death penalty by hanging for Palestinians who are convicted for the killing of Israelis.
The law was approved after hours of discussion on Monday night, despite the objections of Israeli officials of justice, liberal rights organizations and European countries such as Britain and Germany. Of course, the law was approved with limited reactions from public opinion and with the support of some members of the parliamentary opposition.
It will concern killings that “threaten to negate the existence of the state of Israel”, thus Israeli citizens who are convicted for the same offenses appear that they will not have the same penalty.
Two people have undergone the death penalty in Israel: one officer of the IDF due to espionage (he was acquitted posthumously) and one official of the Nazis.
The UN calls for the withdrawal of the bill, as the death penalty “violates the right to life”, while it increases the discrimination between Palestinians and Israelis.
Specifically, it states in its announcement that “hanging constitutes torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment according to international law”, the experts stated.
The experts also express concern that the two “tracks” system of the bill would lead to discriminatory application of the death penalty. “Only Palestinians in the West Bank, and not Israeli settlers, are subject to broader criminal liability, to military law and to military courts, with fewer guarantees of fair trial,” the UN states.
Sources: New York Times, ΟΗΕ
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