Israel: Death penalty law for Palestinians convicted of killing Israelis adopted

(Patria) - The Israeli parliament has adopted a law that allows the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of killing Israelis.

The law stipulates the death penalty by hanging for Palestinians from the West Bank convicted of murders on a nationalistic basis.

It also empowers Israeli courts to impose the death penalty or life imprisonment on Israeli citizens. The law is not retroactive and will only apply to future cases.

The Israeli far-right insisted on the adoption of this law. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu came to the hall and personally voted "yes", reports the portal "Times of Israel".

Israeli and Palestinian human rights groups have sharply criticized the parliament's decision and believe that this will probably not deter Palestinian attackers from their actions.

The Supreme Court of Israel is also expected to rule on the law.