Hi,
Israel government had passed the terrorists death penalty law today, pushing our country further in the wrong direction – to a more religious, right wing fanatic country.
Israel does have a death penalty law, but only for the Nazis and their collaborators. Under this law, Adolf Eichmann was executed in 1962 after being caught in Argentina and sentenced in Israel, following the horrors of the Holocaust
One more person was executed by during the Independence war by Iseer Beeri, who appointed himself the both the judge and the executioner of Meir Tobianski, in a unordinary event in the history of Israel. Iseer Beeri was later judged for killing, and found guilty. But was sentenced to one day in prison and one Israeli Pound.
This law, led by Itamar Ben-Gvir, will probably lead to dozens of death sentences per year and not once in a century.
In his view, executing convicted terrorists would serve as both justice and deterrence — sending a clear message in a region where violence is often glorified. It also follow the public demand for more sevre penalty for terrorists.
I do no think this law will help solve the problems we are dealing with in Israel. Sentencing terrorists who wish to die as Jihadists for capital punishment, will only make them martyrs (I understand the other side claims it won’t make a difference for them then).
There is also a strategic dimension for opposing this law. Israel has long tried to differentiate itself from its surroundings enemy countries by upholding a strong judicial system and democratic norms. This law does not compile with international law, and other treaties Israel is signed on. Setting executions as a routine punishment could shift how the country is perceived internationally — and internally.
At its core, this debate is not just about punishment, and you can say it is another part of the Juridical overcup we being protesting and fighting against before October 7th. And while we are now dealing with this over two years endless war, our government find this time suitable for keep pushing all of its aspects forward while we are all fighting in several frontiers and try to maintain life under Iranian ballistic missiles.
The debate is about Israel about identity: What kind of state does Israel strive to be in the face of ongoing conflict? A state that maximizes the use of force at all costs, or one that maintains long-standing legal restraint even under pressure?
Take Care
Gad
Itamar Ben-Gvir open a champagne, celebrating the terrorists death penalty law yesterday in the Knesset.