In Israel, a bill on the death penalty for terrorists was approved in the first reading.

In Jerusalem, the Knesset of Israel on November 11, 2025, voted for one of the most controversial bills in recent years — the introduction of mandatory death penalty for terrorists who killed citizens of the country. The initiator of the document was deputy Limor Son Har-Melech from the party Otzma Yehudit, known for its tough stance on national security issues. In the first reading, the bill was supported by 39 deputies, 16 voted against.

What changes in Israeli law

The bill proposes that the death penalty will be mandatory for those who committed murder on the grounds of national or religious hatred. The decision on punishment can be made by military courts operating in the West Bank, and a majority of judges’ votes will be sufficient.
In addition, the previous norm allowing military commanders to mitigate the sentence is canceled. This means that a sentence, once passed, cannot be changed or replaced with life imprisonment.

Political and public resonance

The initiative sparked a strong reaction in Israeli society. Representatives of the opposition and human rights organizations stated that the law creates a risk of discrimination and will be applied mainly to Arab terrorists who killed Jews, but not vice versa.
In the history of Israel, the death penalty was applied only once — in 1962, when Nazi criminal Adolf Eichmann was hanged. Since then, no case has been brought to such a measure of punishment, and now the discussion brings the country back to a complex moral question — where is the line between justice and retribution.

Arguments of supporters and opponents

The author of the bill, Limor Son Har-Melech, called it a “necessary step towards justice and the protection of Israelis.” According to her, “those who raise a hand against the citizens of Israel should know that they will not escape retribution.” Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir also supported the initiative, stating that it is a “matter of national dignity and the protection of the people’s right to life.”

The opposition warns of possible outbreaks of violence and diplomatic complications. Leaders of left-wing parties reminded that the death penalty may conflict with the Basic Law on Human Dignity and Freedom and become a subject of consideration by the Supreme Court.

What’s next

After the first reading, the bill is sent to the relevant Knesset committee for detailed revision and legal examination. Ahead are the second and third readings, which will ultimately determine the fate of the initiative.

If the document is adopted, Israel will return to the practice of the death penalty for the first time in more than sixty years. This step will become a symbol of changes in national security policy — and possibly a new frontier in Israeli legal consciousness.

NAnews — Israel News | Nikk.Agency