European countries appeal to Israel to abandon plans to revive death penalty

Four European countries have called on Israel to abandon a bill seeking to revive the death penalty for people convicted of acts of terrorism, a measure opponents say would target only Palestinians. In a joint statement on Sunday ahead of an anticipated final vote in the Knesset on Monday, foreign ministers from France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom expressed their “deep concern” about the bill. “The death penalty is an inhumane and degrading form of punishment without any deterring effect,” the ministers said, calling for those behind the bill to end the initiative. “This is why we oppose the death penalty, whatever the circumstances around the world.” Israel abolished the death penalty for murder in 1954. It remains applicable only for specific cases such as genocide or treason in wartime. No death sentence handed down by a regular court has been carried out since the execution of Nazi criminal Adolf Eichmann in 1962. If the current legislative initiative is approved, Palestinians convicted by military courts in the occupied territories of a terrorist-motivated murder would face a mandatory death sentence. The foreign ministers of the four European countries said the bill had a “de facto discriminatory character”. They said its adoption would risk undermining Israel’s commitment to democratic principles. Meanwhile, the Knesset approved the 2026 budget that provides for a massive rise in military spending, a spokesman for Israel’s parliament said early on Monday. The defence budget will rise by more than US$10 billion, exceeding US$45 billion – more than double the 2023 allocation before the Gaza war was sparked by Hamas’ attack on Israel that year. Defence spending has been steadily increasing since then. The overall budget stands at around US$245 billion. If a budget had not been passed by the end of March, as required by Israeli law, it would have automatically triggered the fall of the government and new elections. In addition to fighting the new war against Iran with its US ally since February 28, Israel is also battling in southern Lebanon against the Iran-backed Islamist movement Hezbollah. The Israeli press reported on March 15 that the government had approved an advance of US$827 million for emergency military purchases related to the continuing war. The Israeli public is not foolish. It understands that this budget is a windfall for the corrupt and for those who evade responsibility Yair Lapid, Israeli opposition leader Ahead of the vote, lawmakers debated the budget proposals late on Sunday. Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called it a “historic turning point” for Israel. “We have the capacity to reshape the Middle East. This budget positions the nation to win,” Smotrich said. “We are passing this budget under a right-wing government committed to fulfilling its term and achieving its missions in security, the economy, and judicial reform. “This term will be remembered as a historic turning point for the State of Israel, redefining both our security approach and our economy,” Smotrich added. Smotrich also said Israel’s macroeconomic performance “astonishes the world and defies all forecasts” despite the war. By contrast, the main opposition leader, Yair Lapid, described it as “the greatest theft in the state’s history”. “Six billion shekels are coalition funds that this government is allocating to itself – to corruption and draft evasion,” Lapid said. “The Israeli public is not foolish. It understands that this budget is a windfall for the corrupt and for those who evade responsibility – celebrating at our expense,” he added. “The next budget will be directed entirely toward those who serve, work, and pay taxes – the Israeli middle class, the very people who are the primary victims of this flawed and distorted budget.” Earlier this week, Lapid had lashed out at the government over its handling of the war in Iran, specifically slamming delays in legislation that would allow ultra-Orthodox Jews, who are largely exempted from military service, to be conscripted. The law aligns with the demands of a broad majority of Israelis, who are increasingly opposed to the ultra-Orthodox exemptions. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who relies on his ultra-Orthodox party allies to maintain power, has used a range of tactics to delay the legislation’s adoption. The surge in defence spending in the budget will lead to a 3 per cent cut across all other ministries, which was also strongly criticised by Lapid. However, Netanyahu’s government, reliant on the support of its ultra-Orthodox and settler allies for its survival, has approved a significant increase in funds earmarked exclusively for them. Ultra-Orthodox parties will receive more than US$750 million in additional budget funds for private schools they control. In addition, despite the sweeping cuts imposed on all civilian budgets, funding for the settlements has remained unchanged, according to a report by the anti-settlement group Peace Now. The Peace Now report denounced the measure as “daylight robbery of public funds” for the benefit of a small group within the government’s base. On December 4, the government adopted a decision to invest more than US$875 million over the next five years in developing settlements in the occupied West Bank, which are illegal under international law. Reporting by dpa, Agence France-Presse, Reuters

European countries appeal to Israel to abandon plans to revive death penalty

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Foreign ministers from France, Germany, Italy and the UK expressed concern about the bill which opponents say would target only Palestinians

Foreign ministers from France, Germany, Italy and the UK expressed concern about the bill which opponents say would target only Palestinians