At the direction of Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, the commander of the Central Command, Major General Avi Balut, signed an amendment to an order that would allow the death penalty to be applied to terrorists in Judea and Samaria - in accordance with the provisions of the law initiated by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
The law allows military courts to impose the death penalty on terrorists who carried out terrorist attacks and murdered Jews.
This is a clear and distinct policy shift after the October 7 massacre: A terrorist who murders Jews will no longer be able to rely on deals, conditions, or hope of future release. Anyone who chooses murderous terrorism against Jews should know that the State of Israel will bring him to justice to the end.
This is a policy change, which comes as part of the shake-up of the public system after the October 7 massacre and constitutes the implementation of one of the main election promises of the Otzma Yehudit faction.
According to the wording of the law and the current amendment to the order, the death penalty will become the exclusive 'default' in the military courts in Judea and Samaria for a terrorist who intentionally caused the death of a person in an act of terrorism.
The amendment fundamentally changes the legal procedure that has been practiced until now: From now on, imposing the death penalty will no longer be conditional on the demand of the military prosecution, will not require a unanimous decision by the panel of judges - but only a simple majority, and will not be limited by the rank of the judges sitting in court.
Moreover, the commander of IDF forces in the region will not be allowed to pardon the terrorist or commute his sentence, and the law categorically prohibits the government from releasing in future prisoner exchange transactions a terrorist who has been sentenced to death or is accused of a crime punishable by death.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir promoted the move with one vision: in the face of murderous terrorism, we do not resort to containment - we decisively, punish, and create a price that no terrorist will be able to pay.
Defense Minister Israel Katz: "The era of containment is over. Terrorists who murder Jews will not sit in prison under comfortable conditions, will not wait for deals and will not dream of release - they will pay the heaviest price. I congratulate my friend, Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, who led, with the support of Prime Minister Netanyahu, this important law.".
""Immediately after the law was approved, I instructed the IDF to work to implement it in Judea and Samaria as well, and today, with the signing of the Central Command commander's amendment to the order, we are making the new policy a reality. Our message to every terrorist is clear: Whoever raises a hand against a Jew, whoever harms IDF soldiers or Israeli citizens - the State of Israel will pursue him, reach him, and bring him to justice to the end.".
Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir: "We promised - and we kept it. A terrorist who murders Jews should know that his end will not be in a release deal, but in the death penalty. I congratulate Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, my colleagues in Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, and the commander of Central Command for promoting and implementing this important policy. After October 7, the State of Israel is changing the equation. In the face of murderous terror, we do not fold or contain - we are decisive.".
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