Liberman claims government thwarting his death penalty for terrorists bill

Ex-defense minister and Yisrael Beytenu party chief Avigdor Liberman is accusing the government of attempting to hobble his bill that aims to make it easier for Israel to sentence convicted Palestinian attackers of civilians and soldiers to death.

Liberman, who last week resigned last week over disagreements with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the Gaza ceasefire, says the Constitution Law and Justice Committee’s decision not to hold a vote on his controversial bill is “a clear disruption by the coalition to the voting public and the bereaved families.”

The bill, which is sponsored by Yisrael Beytenu, passed a preliminary reading in Knesset in January.

However, committee chair, MK Nissan Slomiansky of the Jewish Home party, dismissed the accusation, and said the legislation could not be advanced as usual because Yisrael Beytenu is now in the opposition.