Jerusalem: A petition against a proposed law imposing the death penalty on Palestinian prisoners was published in Israeli newspapers on Tuesday.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the petition, signed by 1,200 individuals, including former officials, Supreme Court justices, Nobel laureates, former heads of the Shin Bet and Mossad security services, academics, university presidents, former IDF Chiefs of Staff Dan Halutz and Moshe Ya'alon, and former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, calls on Knesset members to reject the bill. The petition argues that resuming the use of the death penalty would morally stain Israel and contradict its identity as a Jewish and democratic state, noting that the death penalty is an extreme measure not supported by scientific research as a deterrent for murderers.
The petition highlights the proposed bill, initiated by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, as containing extreme provisions that discriminate between offenders. It states that the bill mandates the death penalty solely for Palestinians who have killed Israelis, excluding others who commit similar offenses. Additionally, it imposes the death penalty for Palestinians tried in military courts in the occupied territories, removing judicial discretion and the possibility of leniency or commutation.
The petition emphasizes that reinstating the death penalty would contradict international trends and Israel's obligations under international law. It warns that approving the law would lead to Israel's isolation, as it has committed to not reinstating such a punishment.