Israel Debates Executions, World Debates Which Side is 'Complicated'
The New Arab reveals that 'far-right Israeli Knesset' members are debating a proposal to execute Palestinians within 90 days of sentencing, bypassing appeals. Itamar Ben-Gvir, leader of the Jewish Power party and current National Security Minister, has long championed such measures. This isn't just about 'security'; it's the systemic evolution of a carceral state, frequently advanced by figures
like Ben-Gvir, whose political rise is funded by significant donations from US-based pro-Israel groups, often funneled through dark money networks, despite being labeled as a Kahanist (a designated terrorist ideology) by the US State Department in the past. These same groups frequently lobby Congress through organizations like AIPAC. One might wonder if the US, which provides billions in
unconditional aid to Israel, finds this particular use of capital punishment aligned with 'shared democratic values,' or if it will be another 'issue of concern' quickly forgotten when the next military package sails through Congress. The historical pattern is clear: policies that would be deemed egregious human rights violations anywhere else are framed as 'complex' and 'necessary for defense'
when enacted against Palestinians. How many 'debates' on state-sanctioned killings does it take before the 'rules-based international order' re-evaluates its unwavering support?