Israel Matzav

Israel needs a death penalty for terrorists

Jewish Home party leader Naftali Bennett really thinks he accomplished something this morning. Bennett managed to push a bill through the cabinet - not the full government or the Knesset - which would allow the courts to sentence really heinous murderers to life in prison without parole. When (and if) such a sentence is pronounced, it would take away from the President the power to pardon those murderers (presumably terrorists), which is a  necessary prerequisite for the disgusting exhibition of released 'Palestinian' murderers on our television screens and radio waves.

The law, which received the cabinet's recommendation by a vote of 15 – 6,  would allow courts to stipulate in sentencing a clause saying that the president will not – as is the case today – have the powers to commute the sentences.

The cabinet also agreed that the Defense Minister will be directed to apply this law to the military courts in Judea and Samaria as well.

...

Economy Minister Naftali Bennett said the bill "puts an end to the 'get out of jail free' card for murderers, which exists only in Israel.

"If Israel can't stand by basic morality, which dictates that murderers should die in prison, then from now on there won't be a choice," the Bayit Yehudi leader added. "If this law existed earlier, then maybe many murderers would have understood that it doesn't pay to kill Jews."

Bennett also called the legislation a "Zionist response" to the Hamas-Fatah unity government.

The bill does not ban the president from pardoning and releasing terrorist prisoners who have already been sentenced to life in prison.

Maybe if the law had existed before it might have helped. Maybe. But in the meantime, there are still thousands of 'Palestinian' murderers in jail who can 'legally' be released as part of a 'gesture.' And there is no guarantee that any judge will use this label to prevent the terrorists' release down the road. How many judges have been willing to label crimes by Knesset members whose name is not Aryeh Deri or Ehud Olmert 'crimes of moral turpitude' to prevent them from running for office again for the next ten years (yes, that one is on the books too).

Here's betting that the only murderers to whom this law will ever be applied are Jews (if they can find a retroactive exemption they'll apply it to Yigal Amir - not that I expect him to be released anyway).

Tsur also emphasized that the bill does not only apply to terrorists or murder motivated by nationalism.

"All murder is detestable and there are extraordinary cases…in which we should prevent the murderers from being able to receive a pardon, which is unjust," he explained. "The bill strengthens judges' authority by creating an additional level of punishment between life in prison and death sentences, which do not exist in Israel. This will increase deterrence and a sense of personal security for all citizens."

Even Amir 'Comrade' Peretz can see right through this one. 

"The bill only applies to future murders and not those who are in prison now. Therefore, it will not bring deterrence. Rather, it will damage Israel's image and diplomatic standing, because the government is afraid to govern and is giving the responsibility to someone else [the courts]," Peretz stated.

Well, yeah, but Peretz is the guy who wants to negotiate Marwan Barghouti's release.

Terror victims head Meir Indor got it right.

Almagor Terror Victims Organization director Lt.-Col. (res.) Meir Indor pointed out that the "the bill as it currently reads does not include thousands of murderers that were already sentenced...and could be released in future negotiations and gestures.

"In order to solve the problem, hundreds of bereaved families with Almagor demand to have the bill apply to terrorists who are already in prison, including those who are on the list for the fourth round [of prisoner releases in the last round of negotiations]," he said.

But Naftali Bennett is full of pride about this bill. Here's what he wrote on Facebook.

"This moment, the government approved the law against releasing terrorists," Bennett wrote. "Today, we end the 'murder deal' - a deal which exists only in Israel. Under the new law, [terrorists convicted of] serious acts of murder could see the judge give them a life sentence without the possibility of parole."

If only.... There's only one answer for terrorists. There's only one thing that's permanent, forever. The death penalty. That's what terrorists deserve and that's the only thing that has half a chance of deterring them. 

Labels: Amir Peretz, death penalty, Marwan Barghouti, Naftali Bennett, Palestinian terrorism, Palestinian terrorists, terror victims

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 11:29 PM