Otzma Yehudit MKs wear noose pins to push death-penalty bill

Doctors’ groups oppose executions; National Security Minister Ben-Gvir says volunteers are lining up.

By Batya Jerenberg, World Israel News

MKs from the Otzma Yehudit Party wore pins shaped like a hangman’s noose to a Knesset committee meeting Monday, signaling their support for the bill to be discussed, which would impose the death penalty on convicted terrorists.

Party head and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir told reporters before entering the National Security Committee session that the pin only symbolized the desired end result.

“The death penalty to terrorists bill,” he said, “is a huge step forward for the State of Israel,” and it didn’t matter whether the terrorists died “by hanging or the electric chair.”

The bill also allows for execution by injection or firing squad.

The gold-colored pin is roughly the size of the yellow ribbon pin that has come to symbolize the demand for the return of all hostages seized by Hamas and other terror groups on Oct. 7, 2023, when they invaded Israel and massacred nearly 1,200 men, women and children.

Opposition MK Gilad Kariv condemned the new pin as a “disgusting takeoff of the hostage pins” and “a cynical and despicable campaign against the bereaved families.”

Ben-Gvir rejected that criticism, as could be seen by his clash during the meeting with Prof. Hagai Levin, chairman of the Association of Public Health Physicians in Israel.

When Levin stated that the association opposes the legislation, the minister retorted, “What do you have to do with it? What does the death of a terrorist have to do with you?”

When Levin responded that executions “will cause trauma to the public,” Ben-Gvir fired back, “Isn’t the trauma of the families who were murdered important? Who is funding you? I would revoke your professorship right now.”

Levin insisted in response, “This proposal will harm public health in Israel.”

According to a statement by the Israeli Medical Association, doctors are barred from taking part in executions.

The far-right minister had an answer to this, too.

“Since it was announced that doctors would not want to help with the law, I have received 100 calls from doctors who said, Itamar, just tell me when,” he said.

The bill passed first reading in November by 39-16 with the backing of several opposition MKs from Yisrael Beiteinu, which has long supported such a death penalty.

At the time, Ben-Gvir handed out sweets — echoing a practice seen in Palestinian celebrations following terror attacks — and said, “After the law is finally passed, terrorists will only be released to hell.”

The legislation applies to terrorists who murder Jews out of nationalistic hatred “with the aim of harming the State of Israel.”

Supporters say only the death penalty will deter terrorism, arguing that life sentences have proved unreliable because many terrorists have later been freed in prisoner-exchange deals.

Opponents have several arguments, including that capital punishment is immoral, ineffective against jihadists who seek martyrdom, and could incentivize further kidnappings to prevent executions.

The meeting of the National Security Committee was called to debate making changes to the original bill before it goes to the Knesset for two more readings so it can become law.