Knesset advances bill to imprison terrorist minors

The Knesset approved during a preliminary reading a bill that would enable the jailing of minors as young as 12 who are convicted of acts of terror.

Lawmakers voted 64 in favor and 22 against the amendment to the Youth Law, sponsored by Likud MK Anat Berko.

“The seriousness that we attach to terror and acts of terror that cause bodily injury and property damage, and the fact that these acts of terror are being carried out by minors, demands a more aggressive approach including toward minors who are convicted of offenses, particularly serious offenses,” the explanatory introduction to the bill reads.

According to the legislation, the juvenile offenders would be interned in a youth facility until the age of 14, at which point they would be transferred to prison. Prison sentences could also be imposed on children under 14 if they are convicted of murder, attempted murder or manslaughter, states the bill, which must be approved by the Knesset.

The legislative initiative gained traction after multiple terror attacks in recent months in which Palestinian teenagers stabbed Israelis.

“Today children are being used [in terror], and we see children in the Islamic State group cutting off people’s heads, and Palestinian terrorists aged 11, children inducted at the entrances to schools,” Berko said. “This law offers deterrence and prevention. This law will give greater security to the citizens of Israel, Jews and Arabs alike.”

MK Osama Sa’adi of the Joint List criticized Berko for putting so much focus on terror in a law that also covers a range of other youth-related crimes.

“Anat Berko wants to take one section of the Youth Law,” which deals with minors in the context of criminal law, “and attach it to acts of terror,” Sa’adi said. “I didn’t hear Anat Berko getting worked up against cases of pedophiles, drug dealing, murder, and offenses like that.

“You aren’t asking to put [other young offenders] in prison, but when a Palestinian youngster throws a stone you want to put him in prison,” he said. “This is part of the continued incitement against the Palestinian public.”

Thirteen-year-old Ahmed Manasra, together with his 15-year-old cousin Hassan Manasra, made world headlines last month after video footage emerged of them chasing two Israelis, a 13-year-old boy and a 25-year-old man, in Jerusalem before stabbing them.

Hassan was killed by police, while Ahmad was hit by a car and then arrested.

According to current Israeli law, if Ahmad is found guilty of attempted murder before reaching the minimum age of 14, the judge will not be able to sentence him to any jail time.

Israel’s penal code defines minors as people under 18 years of age; for the purpose of prosecution for very serious crimes, the minimum age at which they can be tried as adults is 14.