'We needed extra deterrence': Israel passes death penalty law for Palestinian terrorists
March 31, 2026
Sky News Australia
The Knesset, Israel’s parliament, has passed a law making the death penalty the default sentence for Palestinians convicted of deadly attacks in military courts. Israel’s Ambassador to Australia, Dr Hillel Newman, said the death penalty has always existed in Israeli law but had not been implemented. Speaking at the National Press Club of Australia, he confirmed the new legislation would make capital punishment the standard sentence for deadly terror attacks.
“Now let me just clarify, there always was a death penalty in Israel; it just wasn't implemented,” Mr Newman said. “We needed extra deterrence.” He added judges can still impose other sentences even though the law makes the death penalty the default punishment. “[It] did not mandate automatic sentencing. On top of that, it allows an appeal. Anyone can appeal," he said. "Once the decision has been made of capital punishment, they can appeal to the judicial branch of power, and as I said before, the judicial has the discretion to cancel.”
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