Knesset approves death penalty bill against Palestinian prisoners

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli Media
1 Mar 2023 19:38
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Israeli occupation Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir continues his crackdown attempts on Palestinian prisoners, the latest of which was the "capital punishment" bill he introduced.

The swearing-in ceremony of the Israeli occupation Knesset in occupied Al-Quds, April 6, 2021 (AFP)

The Israeli Knesset on Wednesday approved in a preliminary reading a government-backed bill to impose the death penalty on Palestinians who allegedly kill illegal Israeli settlers, Israeli media reported.

According to the media, 55 members of the Knesset (MKs) voted in favor of the bill introduced by Israeli occupation Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, while only nine were against it.

The bill states that a Palestinian who kills an Israeli settler due to so-called "racist motivations" or "hostility towards a [particular] public and in order to harm" "Israel" should be given the death penalty.

On her part, Attorney General Gali Barharav-Miara opposed the bill's introduction, arguing that the security cabinet should first study its ramifications. Cabinet members agreed that following the preliminary vote, the security cabinet would evaluate it.

Knesset supports bill making it difficult to declare Netanyahu unfit for office

In a related context, the Knesset also approved in a preliminary reading a bill that would make it extremely difficult to declare Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu unfit for office.

According to Israeli media, 62 MKs were in favor while 20 voted against the bill. Introduced by Netanyahu's coalition Chairman Ofir Katz from the Likud party and other MKs, the bill would only allow an Israeli Prime Minister to be declared unfit for office due to physical or mental incapacity that makes it impossible for him or her to fulfill responsibilities.

The bill would also require that the decision be taken by the Israeli occupation Prime Minister or in a cabinet vote approved by three-quarters of the ministers.

However, if the Prime Minister were to refuse to hold a cabinet vote on the matter, the decision would head to the Knesset, where a vote would only pass if approved by 90 MKs.

Another clause in the bill would prevent the Israeli Supreme Court from hearing petitions questioning the Prime Minister's fitness for office.

This comes as earlier, illegal Israeli settlers closed roads and train stations protesting a draft judicial amendments bill that Netanyahu's government is seeking to pass, while the Israeli Police Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, threatened protesters and ordered police to force roads open.