According to numerous Israeli reports, and the “Otzma Yehudit” (Jewish Strength) party, a law introducing the death penalty for terrorists was promised as part of the coalition agreements. The clause to legislate the idea into an actionable law was added at the request of designated Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.
The death penalty is highly controversial in Israel. Over the years, there were quite a few members of the Knesset who wanted to promote it, but the proposal got shot down each time due to the opposition of a governing coalition partner as well as the legal difficulties of getting a law passed that many see as violating part of Israel's 'Basic Law', the rules that serve as Israel's constitution.
The coalition agreement between the Likud and Otzma Yehudit was revealed: a death penalty law for Palestinians involved in attacks will be implemented before the budget is passed for 2023.
— Younis | يونس (@ytirawi) December 22, 2022
Last death penalty executed in Israel was back in 1962 for top Nazi official involved WW2. pic.twitter.com/U2OdaM92lJ
The coalition agreement between Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party and Otzma Yehudit states: "Due to the intensification of acts of terrorism with the intention of harming the State of Israel as the state of the Jewish people and in order to consciously defeat the threats, the factions of the coalition will enact, prior to the passing of the budget for 2023, a punishment law for terrorists."
A death penalty law for terrorists currently exists in military law and to implement it requires a unanimous vote in the Knesset, something that is practically impossible given the various liberal and Arab factions that sit in the opposition. Ben Gvir also demanded to the amendment of military law and allow the death penalty for terrorists with a simple majority. Israel exercised the death penalty sparingly in the 1960s when Adolph Eichmann, the architect of Hitler's extermination camps was hung after a public trial and a unanimous vote of Knesset members.
Today 60 Years Ago: Adolf Eichmann, one of the major organizers of the #Holocaust, was captured in Argentina by Mossad agents.
— Hananya Naftali (@HananyaNaftali) May 11, 2020
He was trialed in #Israel for his crimes against humanity and got what he deserved - death penalty, just like he took the lives of Jews. pic.twitter.com/h3KoThaZsJ
The definition of what is a terrorist according to the law to be implemented includes, "a nationalist motive against the rise of the Jewish people in their country."
This is a very explosive bill, even in the previous term, when the possibility of bringing it up for discussion came up, it was met with resolute opposition and threats from the Arab parties because it is a proposal that can cause chaos and complex reality. It is not clear how determined the current coalition will be to pass the law as written in the agreements, but the very statement from the Likud's point of view is certainly dramatic.
Among the other clauses in the coalition agreement between Otzma Yehudit and Likud, it was agreed that the law would establish a minimum sentence of three years in prison for agricultural crime; The law will establish a minimum sentence of three years in prison for collecting sponsorship fees; governance in the Southern District will be amended so that it also applies to Israel Defense Forces bases that are plagued by bedouin thieves who have stolen tens of thousands of ammunition rounds as well as weapons from bases in the past few years; An immunity law will be enacted for IDF soldiers and members of the security forces and Amending the Grandchild Section in the Law of Return which would limit those eligible to immigrate to the Jewish State.
Sources in the parties believe the Likud is concerned it may affect Israel’s relations with the Jewish diaspora.
— BICOM (@BritainIsrael) November 30, 2022
For the time being, the Likud’s partners have not decided whether to insist on abolishing the grandchild clause in the Law of Return.
Translated from KAN RADIO
When Israel was founded it adopted Hitler's rule for who is a Jew, that is having one grandparent who was Jewish. The agreement between the two parties calls for that to be amended to only include those who have at least one parent who is Jewish - along the lines of Jewish law.
It was also agreed that the government would recognize Be'er Sheva as a metropolitan city. Turning it into a metropolis so the residents will benefit from a variety of services will help Israel promote the southern district as a viable option for most Israelis who currently live in the country’s center. This move was expected anyway since the military is scheduled to move their central base of operations from Tel Aviv to the southern city.
