Following the killing of an Israeli citizen in the West Bank on Sunday, Sept. 20, Minister of
National Security Itamar Ben Gvir called for the Death Penalty for Terrorists Law, 5786–2026
to be applied to the arrested suspect, stating that “it is a mandatory sentence.”
Unfortunately, under the terms of a racist and draconian law passed in March 2026 – he could
be right. This case presents the first real test of the law and of Israel’s threat to deviate from
its 64-year moratorium on the death penalty.
