SHAFAQNA - Israel’s ministerial committee for legislation on Sunday will vote on a proposed law that would allow Palestinians convicted by Israeli courts of committing murder “on an ethnic basis†to be executed.
“The ministerial committee for legislation, which includes ten ministers from various Israeli [political] parties, will vote on Sunday on a proposed law that would call for the death penalty against those who commit murder on an ethnic basis,†Israeli daily Yedihoth Ahronoth reported.
According to the newspaper, at least five of the committee’s ten members are expected to endorse the law, which was proposed by Avigdor Lieberman, head of Israel’s far-right-wing Yisrael Beiteinu party.
In order to go into effect, the draft must receive a simple majority of votes in the committee. It then must pass three readings in the Knesset (Israel’s parliament).
Palestinian critics have blasted the proposed legislation.
“Voting in such a law reflects the racism and criminality of [Prime Minister] Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing government,†Issa Qaraqe, head of the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society, an NGO, told Anadolu Agency.
“The international community should act quickly and stand against this Israeli aggression against Palestinians,†he added.
According to official Palestinian figures, over 6,500 Palestinians are currently languishing in prisons throughout the self-proclaimed Jewish state.