National Security Minister Ben-Gvir says Netanyahu pledged support for death-penalty legislation before Oct 7

He said the promise remains in force and that he expects the legislation to move forward.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said in an interview with Maariv published Friday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu personally committed three years ago to advance a law imposing the death penalty on terrorists, describing the pledge as part of their original coalition agreements.

He said the promise remains in force and that he expects the legislation to move forward.

Ben-Gvir argued the measure must be obligatory to have any impact, warning that any system allowing prosecutors or judges to decide case by case would result in the penalty never being applied.

“Everyone has their law of faith,” he told the paper. “For the haredim it’s the draft law; for me, it’s the death penalty for terrorists.” He said military courts technically hold such authority now, yet “the military advocate-general never requested it.”

The minister linked his broader clash with Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara to what he described as efforts to halt his initiatives, including his approach to managing demonstrations.

He said her guidance on handling protests contributed to conditions surrounding the death of teenager Yosef Eisenthal at a recent haredi draft rally, arguing that inconsistent rules on road blockages left police without clear enforcement tools. “Yesterday it was the Left, today it’s the haredim, and tomorrow it will be anyone else,” he said.

Tensions with Baharav-Miara have produced a petition asking the High Court to require Netanyahu to justify keeping him in his post. Ben-Gvir denounced the move, saying the attorney-general and her deputy were “a mafia” attempting to coerce him over appointments. He insisted the court cannot order a minister’s removal without an indictment or conviction.

He said he does not expect early elections but is unconcerned if they occur, claiming broad public backing. He again defended his prewar warnings, saying, “If they had listened to me, October 7 would not have happened,” and noted that he now sits in all senior security forums.

The Justice Ministry did not comment on his remarks.

Benjamin NetanyahuDeath penaltyItamar Ben-Gvir