U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib on Monday, March 30, sharply criticized Israel’s parliament after it passed a controversial law imposing the death penalty on Palestinians convicted of fatal attacks in the occupied West Bank.
The Michigan Democrat described the measure as racially discriminatory and a dangerous escalation in the long-running conflict.
The Knesset approved the legislation this week, making death by hanging the default sentence for Palestinians found guilty in military courts of carrying out deadly attacks classified as terrorism.
The bill, pushed hard by far-right members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition, applies specifically to Palestinians living under Israeli military rule in the West Bank. It does not extend the same automatic penalty to Israeli citizens tried in civilian courts.
Under the new rules, those sentenced to death will be held apart from other prisoners. Visits will be heavily restricted, and even meetings with lawyers will be held only via video.
Executions must take place within 90 days of sentencing. Courts can now impose the penalty with a simple majority vote rather than requiring full agreement, and prosecutors don’t even need to request it. Appeals and clemency options are severely limited for West Bank Palestinians.
This denotes a major shift for Israel, which has not carried out an execution in more than 60 years. The only person put to death since the country’s founding was Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann in 1962.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, a key backer of the bill and leader of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, has openly worn a noose pin on his lapel and spoken casually about hanging, electric chairs, or even assisted euthanasia as possible methods.
Tlaib defends Palestinians
Tlaib, one of the most vocal critics of Israeli policy in Congress, called the law another step in what she sees as a pattern of collective punishment and unequal justice.
In her public statements, she pointed out reports of harsh treatment of Palestinian prisoners and warned that the measure would deepen divisions and undermine any hope for peace.
Human rights organizations that have monitored prisoner deaths and conditions in Israeli facilities since the attacks on October 7, 2023, have expressed concerns similar to her remarks.
The European Union’s diplomatic arm condemned it as a violation of the right to life. The Guardian reports that Britain, France, Germany, and Italy issued a joint statement on Sunday, showing deep concern that the move weakens Israel’s democratic standards.
UN experts had previously urged Israel to drop the bill, arguing it discriminates against Palestinians, removes judicial flexibility, and could amount to cruel or degrading punishment through hanging.
Amnesty International also spoke out before the vote, saying the legislation would expand the use of capital punishment in a clearly biased way.
Military and legal officials inside Israel reportedly warned that the law could breach international obligations and put Israeli personnel at risk of arrest when traveling abroad.
Supporters of the bill contend it is a necessary response to repeated acts of violence against Israelis. They point to the security threats posed by militant groups and say families of victims deserve stronger justice.
Ben-Gvir and others in his party have described the measure as long-overdue accountability for terrorism.
Even with passage in the Knesset, the law is not entirely settled. Israel’s Supreme Court can still review it and potentially strike it down.
Rights groups worry the law could further weaken trust between Israelis and Palestinians and complicate any future negotiations.
According to Palestinian officials, this law is an illustration of the existence of a dual system of justice, whereby their people are treated differently due to their occupation.
Rep. Tlaib’s remarks best illustrate the differences in how the Middle East conflict is perceived in Washington. Even though the US and Israel have a long-standing relationship, people like Rep. Tlaib are still calling for greater scrutiny of decisions that affect Palestinian civilians.
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