Israel is advancing toward a final vote on controversial legislation that would introduce the death penalty for individuals convicted of terrorism, marking a significant and highly debated shift in the country’s criminal justice policy.
The bill, initiated by the far-right party Otzma Yehudit and led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, has progressed through the Knesset after receiving approval from its national security committee.
Under the proposed law, courts would be empowered to impose the death penalty without requiring a request from prosecutors or a unanimous decision, allowing rulings by a simple majority. Those sentenced would be held in special facilities with restricted access, and executions would be carried out within 90 days of sentencing.
The legislation has drawn strong criticism from opposition figures and human rights organizations, who warn that it could mark a major escalation in Israel’s penal system and raise serious moral and legal concerns. Experts affiliated with the United Nations have urged Israel to withdraw the bill, arguing that it would violate the right to life and disproportionately affect Palestinians in occupied territories.
Similarly, the European Union has condemned the initiative, stating that the death penalty inherently breaches fundamental human rights, including protection from torture and inhumane treatment.
Currently, the death penalty in Israel is reserved for the most exceptional cases and has only been carried out twice in the country’s history, most notably in 1962 with the execution of Adolf Eichmann, a key architect of the Holocaust.
