The Israel Prison Service has begun preparations to carry out the death penalty against Palestinians accused of terrorist offenses, once a bill authorizing the penalty becomes law. The bill applies only to Palestinians convicted of killing Israelis on “nationalistic grounds,” but does not apply to Jewish Israelis who kill Palestinians in similar circumstances.
The Middle East Eye, citing Israel’s Channel 13, reports that preparations include the creation of a facility dubbed “Israel’s Green Mile,” where executions will take place. Training and procedural preparations have also started, while a delegation from the prison service is expected to visit an East Asian country to study the legal and regulatory framework for implementing capital punishment, the report added.
The move follows the Knesset’s approval of the death penalty bill in its first reading on Nov. 3 of last year, with 39 MPs in favor and 16 against. The bill must pass two further readings before becoming law.
