Netanyahu Government Pulls controversial Palestinian Prisoner Execution Bill
Jerusalem – The Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, withdrew a proposed law allowing the death penalty for Palestinian prisoners convicted of attacks against Israelis, halting a scheduled vote in the Knesset yesterday. The move came after the coalition failed to secure a parliamentary majority, facing opposition from its religious partners.
The bill, initially championed by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s ”Jewish Power” party, had advanced through the National Security Committee on Monday, receiving a green light from Netanyahu for a full Knesset vote. Though, disagreements over separate legislation concerning military conscription for religious Israelis ultimately led to the government pulling the prisoner execution bill – along with all othre proposed legislation – from the Knesset agenda.
The dispute centers on demands from Haredi religious parties for a law exempting them from mandatory military service. These parties announced months ago they would withhold support for government-sponsored bills until progress was made on the conscription issue.
The draft law on executing Palestinian prisoners had already been approved by a parliamentary committee in September, signaling a potential shift in Israeli policy towards harsher punishments for security offenses. Its withdrawal leaves the fate of such legislation uncertain and underscores the fragility of Netanyahu’s governing coalition.
