The Israeli Knesset passed a new law that Arabs terrorists, but not Jews ones, who kill Israeli citizens could now receive the death penalty. However, it is highly likely that the Israeli Supreme Court will rule against the law, not only because it is discriminatory but because it goes against Jewish tradition. While the death penalty has always been legal in Jewish society, the Talmud, the major Jewish legal text, suggested it ought to be ordered just “once in 70 years,” reflecting the gravity of the matter.

This law was initiated and actively supported by Itamar Ben Gvir and the other 13 members of extreme rightwing anti-Arab Religious Zionist (RZ) party. It would be a mistake, however, to interpret its success as reflecting widespread anti-Arab sentiment. Indeed, over the last few years, a number of anti-Arab efforts by the RZ have been rebuffed. When they attempted to freeze already approved funding for Arab communities, the Interior Minister Arbel not only released the funds, but added substantial additional emergency funds to Arab municipalities. The current Netanyahu-led government did adopt a five-year plan for East........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)