Death Penalty for Terrorists Urged

Knesset Speaker Yitzhak Shamir said today that he supports the death penalty for terrorists in extreme cases and that he intends to propose legislation to that effect in the Knesset following the terrorist attack on Nahariya this morning.

Shamir said on the Army Radio that he will try to influence Knesset members to support legislation to make the death penalty an option for terrorists brought to trial for murder. While the death penalty is provided by Israel’s legal statutes, governments throughout the State’s history have maintained a standing order which stipulates that prosecutors avoid requesting that it be implemented.

The issue of the death penalty for terrorists has been dealt with by the Knesset in the past. Any future debate promises to bring out familiar arguments pro and con. Justice Minister Shmuel Tamir refused to comment on Shamir’s statement but other Knesset members were quick to express, their views on the issue.

Laborite Yossi Sarid said “I am certain that the implementation of the death penalty would only make it easier for the terror organizations in Beirut to focus world attention on their struggle. It is indeed unfortunate that on a day of mourning like today such a deceptive recipe has again been brought to public attention.”

Yehuda Ben-Meir of the National Religious Party suggested a reevaluation of the death penalty dilemma. He noted that continued terrorist attacks on Israel necessitate a reevaluation of Israel’s position on terror. While observing that the security forces oppose proposals like Shamir’s, Ben-Meir contended that “It is certainly worthwhile discussing the subject once more, and I will definitely support such a debate.”