Israeli rights group asks court to block death penalty law targeting Palestinian prisoners

The Association for Civil Rights in Israel filed the first petition Monday with the Supreme Court challenging a law passed by the Knesset that imposes the death penalty on Palestinian prisoners.

In a statement, the association said the petition targets the Knesset, the prime minister, the defense minister, the commander of the Israel army in the West Bank, the attorney general, the military advocate general, and the prison service.

The group argued in its petition that "the death penalty is fundamentally unconstitutional, given the grave and irreparable violation it inflicts on the right to life."

"The petition asserts that the law egregiously violates human rights, is incompatible with democratic values, and was enacted with a prohibited motive of revenge and racism," the association said.

It added that “given the law’s immediate entry into force and the serious human rights violations that may result from its application, the association requests that the court issue a precautionary order to freeze the law and schedule an urgent hearing to consider the petition.”

The law was approved in second and third readings by 62 votes in favor, 48 against, and one abstention. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voted in support.

*Writing by Rasa Evrensel in Istanbul

The Association for Civil Rights in Israel filed the first petition Monday with the Supreme Court challenging a law passed by the Knesset that imposes the death penalty on Palestinian prisoners.

The group argued in its petition that "the death penalty is fundamentally unconstitutional, given the grave and irreparable violation it inflicts on the right to life."

"The petition asserts that the law egregiously violates human rights, is incompatible with democratic values, and was enacted with a prohibited motive of revenge and racism," the association said.

The law was approved in second and third readings by 62 votes in favor, 48 against, and one abstention. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voted in support.

*Writing by Rasa Evrensel in Istanbul