news brief Israeli National Security Minister wants death penalty for terrorists

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir is taking Friday night’s Jerusalem terror attack personally, stating that it happened “on his watch.”

The national security minister said he intends to gather intelligence that will assist him in identifying suspects and individuals with weapons, even if it means going from neighborhood to neighborhood.

Additionally, he said he hopes to work toward passing legislation which will permit the death penalty for terrorists, stating, “Anyone who murders, harms and slaughters civilians, should be sent to the electric chair.”

Ben Gvir not only said he hopes to pass such a law but that he wants to do so with a large majority. He also spoke about other measures he will seek to implement to combat terror.

Former Finance Minister Avigdor Liberman, who also served as defense minister in a previous Netanyahu government, tried for years to pass a death penalty bill.

The death penalty has occurred only once in Israel, with the execution of the infamous Nazi, Adolf Eichmann.

Ben Gvir brought up capital punishment in November, making it a condition for his party to join the government’s coalition.