The debate (happening today in the Knesset) over the death penalty for terrorists law is difficult.
I personally think the law is fine and can be passed, even if it is largely unnecessary. We all know it will almost never be carried out, and the ironic part is that even if it would be, it almost never would be needed. most terrorists in these parts of the world are suicidal to start with - they die either as part of the terror attack or with the help of a gun held by an Israeli putting an end to the attack. The terrorists, or their assistants who do get caught and taken alive, would mostly anyway not get the death penalty.
So, yes, maybe there is some sense of deterrence by having such a law on the books, and we already have one on the books anyway, but I dont think the impact will be majorly significant. The deterrence will be effected more by applying the law and actually killing terrorists by hanging or firing squad or whatnot than just by having such a law (and again, we already do have such a law, though perhaps it needs to be amended or broadened a bit). And we know that will only rarely happen, if ever. Between the courts, international pressure and condemnation, threats of greater escalation and whatnot, we all know the government that would carry such a death sentence out is probably very rare.
All that being said, I think today's debate is bad timing. Does this have to be handled today in the middle of the war, with the lives of many of the 240 hostages hanging in the balance? Can't it wait until the hostage situation gets clarified or until we get them back? With Hamas seeing Israel working on such a law, maybe it endangers the hostages even more than they already are!
I dont know if now is the wrong time for this or not, but this just piles on more worry to the families already in grief and not sleeping without a sign of life from their loved ones in forty some days. I am open to being convinced that there is some benefit to doing this right now, but I currently dont see the big benefit and only see the additional pain being caused.
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