Netanyahuโ Government Pulls controversial Palestinianโฃ Prisoner Execution Bill
Jerusalem – The โIsraeli โgovernment, ledโฃ by Prime Minister Benjamin โคNetanyahu, withdrew aโฃ proposed lawโ allowing the death penalty for Palestinianโข prisoners convicted of attacks against Israelis,โ halting a scheduled vote in the Knesset yesterday. The move โฃcame after the coalition failed to secure a parliamentary majority, facing opposition fromโ its religiousโข partners.
The bill, initially championed byโฃ far-right โฃNational Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s โค”Jewish Power” party, had โadvanced through the National Security Committee on Monday, receiving a green light from Netanyahuโข for a full Knesset vote. Though, disagreements over separate legislation concerning military conscription for religious Israelis ultimately led to the government pulling theโ prisoner execution bill – along with allโฃ othreโ proposed legislation – from the Knessetโฃ agenda.
The dispute centers on demands from Haredi religious parties for a law exemptingโ them from mandatory military service. These parties โannounced โmonths ago they would โwithhold โsupport for government-sponsored billsโข until progress was made โon the conscription issue.
The draft law on executing Palestinian prisoners had already been approved โby a parliamentary committee in September, signaling a potential shift in Israeli โคpolicy towards โขharsherโค punishmentsโ for securityโค offenses.โ Its withdrawal leaves the fate of such legislation uncertain and underscores the fragility of Netanyahu’s governing coalition.
