Israel's parliament on Monday approved a controversial bill to reintroduce the death penalty for terrorists, a move considered racist by critics as the legislation would effectively only apply to Palestinians.
Rights organizations and several European countries had called for the initiative to be stopped.
Under the bill, Palestinians convicted of murder as an act of terrorism by military courts in the occupied territories would face a mandatory death sentence.
In civilian courts in Israel, meanwhile, a person convicted of murder with a terrorism motive with the aim of destroying the State of Israel could be sentenced either to death or to life imprisonment under the law.
The bill was introduced by the Otzma Yehudit party of far-right Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir.
A total of 62 of 120 lawmakers in the Knesset backed the bill in a final vote on Monday, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A total of 48 lawmakers voted against the bill, while the rest abstained or were not present for the vote.
latest_posts
World’s tallest bridge and biggest museum named ‘greatest places of 2026’- How we came to be: Scientists get first look at the evolution of early complex animals
- Bayer reports positive results for blood thinner after 2023 setback
- New ‘Cloud-9’ object could reveal the secrets of dark matter
- Gaza amputees struggle to rebuild lives as the enclave faces shortages of prosthetic limbs
- This country music star spent years hiding his sexuality. Coming out — and beating addiction — has made his soul feel '20 pounds lighter.'
- The Minimized Passage Horse: Reconsidering a Symbol for the Cutting edge Period
- Obamacare enrollment declines as US subsidies expire
- Cocoa Prices Settle Lower on Expectations of Adequate Supplies
