Historic: Israel Approves Death Penalty for Terrorists Law in Final Reading
The Israeli Knesset passed the Death Penalty for Terrorists bill in its second and third readings. The legislation, spearheaded by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, passed with 62 in favor and 48 opposed, drawing widespread celebrations from the coalition alongside fierce international criticism and imminent Supreme Court petitions.
The Knesset officially approved the Death Penalty for Terrorists bill, initiated by the Otzma Yehudit party and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. The vote took place against a backdrop of high political tension and internal coalition disagreements.
Following the announcement of the results, coalition members erupted in applause and celebration. Conversely, the opposition directed their frustration at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who arrived to vote in favor, shouting, "Ben-Gvir's slave!"
The new legislation establishes the death penalty for terrorists who commit premeditated murder as part of terrorist activities. Despite ongoing reservations from the defense establishment and legal experts regarding its potential repercussions, Otzma Yehudit relentlessly pushed the bill forward, viewing it as a critical tool for deterrence.
Following the vote, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir welcomed the outcome:
"We promised and we delivered. Today, the State of Israel is changing the rules of the game: whoever murders Jews will not continue to breathe and enjoy prison conditions. This is a day of justice for the murdered, a day of deterrence for our enemies. No more revolving doors for terrorists, but a clear resolution. Whoever chooses terror, chooses death."
MK Zvika Fogel (Otzma Yehudit), Chairman of the National Security Committee, echoed these sentiments, stating that the law is "not one of revenge or anger, but a law of state responsibility toward its citizens."
In a letter sent to MKs and the Security Cabinet earlier that morning, Ben-Gvir framed the vote as a test of Israel's sovereignty and moral resilience, urging politicians to view it as a "supra-partisan national move."
The legislation also garnered external support from groups like the IDF Disabled Veterans Forum for Israel's Security, who argued that post-October 7 realities demand measures that significantly enhance deterrence against ideological terror.
International Pushback and Looming Legal Battles
The law's passage immediately triggered significant international backlash and set the stage for major legal battles.
The foreign ministers of Germany, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement expressing "deep concern" over the legislation. They urged the Knesset to abandon the move, warning that expanding the death penalty threatens democratic principles and carries a discriminatory nature.
The legal fight is expected to move swiftly to the High Court of Justice. MK Gilad Kariv, who led the opposition's fight against the bill in committee, announced his intention to petition the court alongside the Zulat Institute and Rabbis for Human Rights.