JERUSALEM, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Israel's parliament on Monday approved a bill making the death penalty the default punishment for Palestinians in the West Bank convicted of "terrorism," a move that has drawn international criticism.
The legislation, widely known as the "death penalty for terrorists" law, passed with 62 lawmakers in favor, 48 against, and one abstention.
Introduced by members of Israel's far-right coalition government, the law targets Palestinians convicted of killing Israelis. It does not apply to Israelis who kill Palestinians. The bill mandates capital punishment for attackers who kill with the intent of negating the existence of the State of Israel.
Under the law, courts can impose the death penalty even if prosecutors do not request it, and a unanimous judicial decision is not required.
The law does not cover militants involved in the Hamas-led Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel. A separate bill creating a special tribunal for those cases is being advanced.
The vote comes amid a rise in settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. Israeli human rights group Yesh Din documented 257 incidents in the past month, including physical assaults, property damage, and land takeovers.
The legislation faced widespread international criticism before the vote. On Sunday, the foreign ministers of Germany, France, Italy, and Britain warned that the bill is "de facto discriminatory" toward Palestinians. They said it "would risk undermining Israel's commitments with regard to democratic principles." ■
