Israel’s Knesset National Security Committee will be holding a final vote on Tuesday to advance the controversial death penalty bill that enables executions of Palestinians convicted of alleged "terror" offences. The bill, pushed by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir , is expected to come up for a second and third vote before the Israeli parliament breaks up for Passover in April.
The committee is set to discuss the bill this week, with its chairman, Otzma Yehudit lawmaker Tzvika Foghel, declining to say when his party will bring it to a vote.
The final draft of the controversial bill was published in January, formalising executions under a legal framework that applies exclusively to Palestinians and not to Israelis committing the same offence. Several security and legal bodies, including the National Security Council, Shin Bet and the Foreign Ministry, have raised legal and diplomatic concerns about the draft, arguing that its language is too harsh and could invite international backlash and court challenges, leading to parts of the language being "softened" last week.
Even Benjamin Netanyahu argued the draft was harsher than US capital punishment and could open Israel to further international scrutiny.
The clause requiring the death penalty without judicial discretion was removed, allowing judges to choose between capital punishment and life in prison, while the requirement for the trials to take place in military courts was also removed.
Another clause was removed defining terror victims as "Israeli citizens", to avoid being accused of discrimination and would have excluded Palestinian victims.
The Israeli military also said the bill violates international law and could lead to its commanders being pulled into foreign legal proceedings and international tribunals.
The legislation, which amends Israel's penal and military law, has faced condemnation, being described as "a blatant violation of international humanitarian law".
The bill will execute Palestinians convicted of killing Israelis in attacks defined as terrorism or as motivated by "hatred".
In the occupied West Bank , judges would have to impose a mandatory death sentence for intentional killing, even by a simple majority and even if prosecutors did not request it.
It also removes or severely limits appeals, commute options and pardons, with executions to be carried out within about 90 days of conviction.
If passed, the bill would further cement Israel's use of the death penalty as a weapon of collective punishment against Palestinians under occupation.