The Knesset's National Security Committee on Monday approved in first reading a bill introduced by the Otzma Yehudit party that would impose a mandatory death sentence for anyone who murders an Israeli citizen out of hatred toward the state, sending the measure to a plenary vote scheduled for Wednesday. Under the draft law, military courts would hand down the sentence by simple majority and no commutations would be permitted.
Committee chair Zvika Fogel presided over the vote and hailed the approval as "a historic moment," saying the bill would end what he described as "release agreements" and "hotels for terrorists." The measure's authors have framed the legislation as an effort to "root out terrorism at its source" and to strengthen deterrence, citing a rise in attacks targeting Jews. Supporters argue the law would remove what they call comfortable detention arrangements and political releases for perpetrators.
The draft law contains several provisions intended to channel such cases to military courts and make the death penalty mandatory in qualifying murders. Its authors and backers argue that the change is necessary in response to recent violence and that a strict, uncompromising penalty will enhance deterrence. They also contend that existing practices have allowed for leniency, including releases and detentions that they say are inadequate responses to attacks motivated by hatred of the state.
Opponents and other lawmakers have raised human rights and legal concerns, warning the measure would represent a significant shift in Israel's legal system. Critics point to the mandatory nature of the penalty, the removal of commutation avenues, and the use of military tribunals deciding by simple majority as elements that could alter long-standing legal norms. The debate is expected to be contentious when the bill reaches the full Knesset.
Political dynamics inside the government have shifted during deliberations. Gal Hirsch, the government coordinator for missing persons and hostages, had earlier opposed the bill but reversed his position following talks with the Prime Minister, according to parliamentary reports. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir defended the bill ahead of the expected debates in the Knesset, according to accounts of the minister's stance. No vote tally was disclosed by the committee in the account of the first reading.
The measure's passage out of the National Security Committee marks a notable step for a proposal from the Otzma Yehudit party, which has pushed hard for tougher measures against those who carry out politically or ideologically motivated killings. The committee's approval now places the bill before the full Knesset, where it will face floor debate and a Wednesday plenary vote that could determine whether it advances further in the legislative process.
If the bill proceeds, it would likely prompt additional legal and political scrutiny given its potential implications for sentencing, military-justice procedures, and the role of commutations in Israel's penal system. Lawmakers and legal observers will be watching the plenary session for amendments, procedural moves, and the broader parliamentary response to a proposal that both proponents and opponents say would reshape core aspects of criminal justice policy.