Israeli lawmakers clash over mandatory death sentence for terrorists

Tel Aviv [Israel] September 28 (ANI/TPS): Israeli lawmakers opened a contentious debate on a bill to impose the death penalty on convicted terrorists. Proponents told the Knesset’s National Security Committee that capital punishment represented “justice," while opponents warned it could endanger hostages currently held by Hamas.The proposed legislation, championed by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, would make execution mandatory for certain terror convictions. The measure would also allow a majority of judges to impose the death penalty and would eliminate the possibility of commuting such sentences once finalised.“A terrorist who is convicted of murder motivated by racism or hostility toward the public, and in circumstances aimed at harming the State of Israel and the resurrec