Israeli government and army support bill to execute Palestinians

The Israeli government and military have thrown their support behind a contentious legislative proposal that would permit the execution of Palestinian prisoners convicted of terrorism and fatal attacks. This development, reported by Yedioth Ahronoth, has sparked widespread criticism across the region. The security cabinet convened last night to discuss the initiative, which has already passed its first reading in the Knesset (Israeli Parliament). During the meeting, Shin Bet security service chief David Zini lauded the legislation as a ‘highly effective deterrent.’ A representative of the Armed Forces stated that ‘there is no obstacle to the law,’ while Government Secretary Yossi Fox emphasized the need to consider whether discretionary power should be introduced and if the penalty should be mandatory. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, known for his expansionist and anti-Arab views, supported this stance. Meanwhile, Palestinian groups and NGOs have vehemently condemned the bill’s initial approval, decrying it as a severe violation of human rights.