Israel Passes Controversial Death Penalty Law Targeting Palestinians ⚖️

The Israeli Knesset has approved a bill mandateing the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of killing Israelis in acts of "terror," while exempting Jewish Israelis from the same penalty for similar offenses. • Legislative Approval: Passed with 62 votes in favor—including Prime Minister Netanyahu—and 48 against. The law enters effect within 30 days and marks a significant victory for the far-right coalition. • Legal Disparity: The law instructs military courts to impose death by hanging via a simple majority of judges. Legal experts and rights groups note the law is "discriminatory by design," applying specifically to non-citizen Palestinians in the West Bank. • International Concerns: The Palestinian Authority has labeled the move a "war crime" breaching the Fourth Geneva Convention. Critics highlight that Israel’s military courts have a 96% conviction rate for Palestinians, often based on "confessions" obtained under duress. • Judicial Challenge: The Association of Civil Rights in Israel has already petitioned the Supreme Court, arguing the law was enacted without legal authority over the West Bank. • Historical Context: This marks a radical shift in policy; Israel has not carried out an execution since 1962. The law's implementation remains subject to high-level legal challenges amid ongoing regional tensions.