EU unanimously slammed Israel

Brussels (dpa) — The European Union’s member states have unanimously sharply criticized Israel’s plans to introduce the death penalty for terrorists.

“The approval of the Death Penalty Bill by the Israeli Parliament marks a grave regression from that practice and from Israel’s own commitments,” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said in a statement issued on Tuesday on behalf of the member states. “We are deeply concerned about the de facto discriminatory character of the Bill.”

Kallas’ statement on behalf of the 27 EU states recalled that Israel had for a long time maintained a de facto moratorium on both executions and the imposition of the death penalty. This had so far given the country a role-model function in the region despite a complex security environment, the text said.

EU unanimously slammed Israel

EU sees obligations under agreement breached

The EU continued to urge Israel to adhere to its previous fundamental position and to comply with its obligations under international law and its commitment to democratic principles, as also enshrined in the provisions of the association agreement between the EU and Israel, the statement said.

The death penalty violates the right to life and cannot be carried out without also breaching the absolute ban on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, the statement added. In addition, there is no proven deterrent effect of the death penalty and any miscarriages of justice would be irreversible.