In a dramatic development around Israel’s new death penalty law for terrorists, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today (Tuesday) publicly and explicitly called for the death penalty to be imposed on the terrorist who carried out the deadly shooting attack in Binyamin that killed Netanel Shukrun. Netanyahu made the statement during a condolence call with the victim’s family, after Shukrun’s son Yoav—who survived the shooting at the spring—asked the prime minister whether the state would seek to execute the jihadist.
1+“This is exactly why we enacted the death penalty law for terrorists. It is appropriate and necessary for the justice system to act immediately to implement it according to the law,” Netanyahu told the bereaved son. This is the first time the prime minister has demanded the law be applied practically and immediately to a specific case. Netanyahu’s position joins calls from Coalition Chairman Ofir Katz and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who raised the demand in a closed security meeting even before Yom Kippur. Following Netanyahu’s statement, a group of Likud lawmakers is preparing to petition the Military Prosecution to demand the death penalty in the indictment.
The attack occurred on the eve of Yom Kippur at Ein Reiya spring near Neveh Tzuf, where Shukrun had gone with his son. An armed terrorist drove by and opened heavy fire that critically wounded Shukrun, who was later pronounced dead at Beilinson Hospital. After a quick manhunt, Duvdevan fighters raided a hospital in Ramallah and captured the terrorist—a 37-year-old Hamas operative from the Bir Zeit area—who had scouted the location the day before.
1+The expected legal proceedings could become the first precedent-setting test of the new law, which passed the Knesset in March and took effect in early April. Under the updated legislation, a terrorist resident of Judea and Samaria who commits premeditated murder will be sentenced to death by a military court unless the court finds highly exceptional circumstances. The new law removed the traditional requirement for a unanimous decision or an explicit request from the prosecution, and established that no pardon can be granted to a terrorist sentenced to death.
At the same time, it’s important to note that although the terrorist deportation law passed the Knesset more than three years ago with an overwhelming majority of 94 MKs, not a single terrorist has been deported to this day. Nevertheless, Netanyahu’s statement signals direction and increases pressure on the legal system. A group of Likud lawmakers intends to petition the Military Prosecution soon with a demand to advance the trial and death sentence for the despicable terrorist.