Momentum condemns in the strongest possible terms the law passed by the Israeli Knesset on Monday imposing the death penalty on Palestinians convicted of fatal attacks in the occupied West Bank

Momentum condemns in the strongest possible terms the law passed by the Israeli Knesset on Monday which imposes the death penalty on Palestinians convicted of fatal attacks in the occupied West Bank.

The legislation makes the death penalty the default punishment for Palestinians found guilty of deadly attacks deemed as terrorism by a military court. Courts may impose it without a request from prosecutors and without requiring a unanimous decision. Those condemned are held in isolation, with legal consultations permitted only by video link and no visits except from authorised personnel. There is no avenue for appeal or clemency.

The law is discriminatory by design as it applies exclusively to Palestinians tried in military courts. Whilst Israeli settlers living in the same occupied territory are tried in civilian courts and face no equivalent provision. If enacted, this will be constituted as a war crime according to the UN Human Rights High Commissioner Türk.

“Malta’s constitutional neutrality is not a licence for silence on human rights violations. Condemning violence and upholding human dignity must apply without exception, to all parties, in all conflicts”, says Arnold Cassola, Chairperson and election candidate for Momentum.

“A law that mandates the death penalty for one group of people while explicitly shielding another from the same provision is not justice but discrimination.

Momentum calls on the government not only to express its concern, as it has already done, but to join the international community in strong and vociferous condemnation of this legislation and to make clear, without equivocation, that Malta stands for the equal application of human rights”, concluded Prof. Cassola.

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