These febrile days I’m cautious to use words like ‘extremism’. Always provocative, this term now raise fires, especially on social media. But sometimes it is accurate. Such as to describe a government policy of imposing the death penalty exclusively on a population living in a territory occupied by military forces – and where some of the ministers championing this legislation wear noose-shaped lapel pins.
This is the Israeli government under Benjamin Netanyahu in 2026. The legislation in question passed its first vote in the Israeli Knesset last week; it applies only to Palestinians from or in the West Bank found guilty of carrying our fatal attacks on Israelis. it does not apply to Israelis who fatally attack Palestinians, in fact it does not apply to Israelis at all.
The architect of this law, now official Israeli policy, is Itamar Ben-Gvir, leader of the extremist-right Otzma Yehudit party. This law gives Israeli courts the right to impose the death penalty without a request by prosecutors, and without unanimity – via a simple majority. Executions will be carried out within ninety days. There will be no right of appeal – though Palestinians inside Israel could have their sentences commuted to life in Israeli prison. The widespread torture of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails is well evidenced.
Fascism, in case you need a quick reminder, has a number of key characteristics – these include ‘authoritarianism’, ‘ultra-nationalism’ and ‘disdain for human rights’ as well as ‘often seeking to expand territory through armed conflict.’
Terrorists and fascists of any nationality, be they Palestinian or Israeli, deserve life in prison and a fair trial, but this is not the reality for Palestinians inside Israel today.
Yuli Novak, one of my all-time heroines, is Director of B’Tselem, the Israeli human rights network. ‘Israel is already killing Palestinians on a regular basis… with close to zero accountability’ she says. ‘this law is another tool.’ If you want more information on this law, human rights in Israel, and the stalwart Israeli activists who insist to speak out despite intense risks, here is the link to the B’Tselem website.
Yuli Novak’s point has stayed with me: this deeply racist law – which I’ll repeat pertains to Palestinians only – is one link in an extremist chain of right-wing Israeli politicians openly working to cleanse Palestine of Palestinians. And this structural violence also rests on the assumption that the ‘International community’ will publicly wring its hands, but in reality do nothing to challenge the Israeli government. Our government here in the UK, for example, has politely raised its ‘deep concern‘ about the death penalty. I have seen no further action – if you have, do let me know.
A brief anecdote: I was once called as a witness at a mock war-crimes tribunal, where the Israeli government was put on trial at a university in London. I outraged some of those attending by stating that Israeli did have legitimate security concerns. That was back in 2008 when I was living inside Gaza.
Israel did and still does have these concerns. And they will never be addressed without facing up to its occupation of Palestine and the legal rights of Palestinians. Such a reckoning would probably also catalyse the demise of the autocratic regime of Palestinian Authority head Mahmoud Abbas, who needed to resign long ago. Palestinians and Israelis both deserve better governments.
In truth, given Netanyahu’s seeming hold over Donald Trump, he currently appears unassailable. At war on at least three fronts (Iran, Palestine & Lebanon) he cockily called the heavy bombing of Iran ‘half-over’ this week – as though it is he who he will instruct Trump when to cease.
But at a moment in our collective history when it seems the only certainty is chaos, I am sad to say that firstly, I’m certain Israel will implement this death penalty – and execute more Palestinians.
And secondly, that Israel will not be safer as a result. Rather its people will continue as perpetual hostages of their extremist government that feeds them fear and hatred. Netanyahu and his cabinet of executioners have neither the courage, nor wisdom to address the real challenge of how Israel can live without being perpetually at war, including with itself.
