Despite opposition, death penalty bill for terrorists heads to first Knesset reading

The Otzma Yehudit party is preparing to bring the proposed Death Penalty for Terrorists Law to the Knesset plenum for a first reading on Wednesday, according to a report on Kan Reshet Bet Radio on Monday.

This move comes despite statements made about a month ago by Gal Hirsch, the Coordinator for Hostages and Missing Persons in the Prime Minister’s Office, who said that he had asked Prime Minister Netanyahu not to bring the proposal to the plenum before a thorough discussion is held in the Security Cabinet.

Approval of the bill in its first reading would allow its continued advancement in the next Knesset, even if it is not passed in the current one.

According to the proposal by MK Limor Son Har-Melech, a terrorist convicted of murder motivated by nationalism or racism would be sentenced to death.

The proposal further stipulates that a death sentence may be imposed by a majority vote of the judges, and that no reduction of sentence would be permitted once a final verdict has been issued.

Today, the National Security Committee, headed by MK Tzvika Fogel, is expected to discuss the bill.

At the end of September, the proposal was already approved for a first reading, but opposition members of the committee argued that such votes are not customary during the Knesset recess.

On Monday, security officials are expected to present their professional opinions on the matter, with part of the discussion expected to be classified.

The committee will also discuss a similar proposal by MK Oded Forer from the Yisrael Beiteinu party.

With the opening of the winter session two weeks ago, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir threatened that if the death penalty bill for terrorists is not brought to a plenum vote within three weeks, his Otzma Yehudit party would no longer feel obligated to vote with the coalition.