From the Liveblog of
Monday, September 8, 2025
Otzma Yehudit to push for death penalty for terrorists after Jerusalem shooting
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleSam Sokol is a former political correspondent at The Times of Israel. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"
Following this morning’s shooting attack in Jerusalem, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s far-right Otzma Yehudit party announces it intends to raise the issue of implementing a death penalty for terrorists next week in the Knesset National Security Committee, chaired by party MK Zvika Fogel.
According to reports, the party believes the coalition has failed to advance the issue fast enough and the discussion needs to be expedited. In March 2023, lawmakers voted 55-9 in support of a bill advanced by Otzma Yehudit to impose the death penalty on terrorists who kill Israelis.
“A death penalty for terrorists is what every terrorist who goes out to murder Jews deserves. Until the law passes, prison conditions for terrorists have been toughened,” says Ben Gvir in a statement, only a day after the High Court determined Israel is not properly feeding Palestinian security prisoners.
“This is the first step towards restoring deterrence. We will continue to advance the law until its final approval,” says Otzma Yehudit MK Limor Son Har-Melech, the bill’s sponsor.
The Times of Israel Community.