UPDATE: The Israeli Medical Association (IMA) has officially opposed a government-backed bill proposing the death penalty for terrorist murderers. This urgent decision comes as the controversial legislation, sponsored by the opposition party Yisrael Beiteinu and supported by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, is currently under review by the Knesset National Security Committee.
The proposed law, which would empower courts to impose capital punishment on individuals responsible for terrorist attacks resulting in Israeli deaths, has already passed its initial reading earlier this month. The bill has reignited fierce debates across Israel, particularly in light of its implications for medical ethics. Dr. Yossi Walfisch, chair of the IMA’s Ethics Committee, emphasized that if the bill becomes law, physicians must refrain from any involvement in administering the death penalty.
In a statement to the Knesset committee, Dr. Walfisch declared that “medical ethics prohibit any participation of physicians in determining, preparing for, or carrying out the death penalty.” He further asserted, “A physician is meant to heal. Accordingly, there is an absolute prohibition on Israeli physicians taking part, whether actively or passively, in executions.” This strong stance underscores the ethical divide that the bill has created within the medical community.
The death penalty is already part of Israeli law, applicable only in rare circumstances such as for Nazi war crimes and treason, and has been enforced twice in history. The first execution was that of IDF officer Meir Tobianski in 1948, who was later exonerated, while the second was Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann in 1962.
Despite predictions that the bill would struggle to pass its initial reading, it advanced due to a coalition majority and low attendance from opposition members. However, tensions rose in the Knesset during the vote, leading to the ejection of three Arab-Israeli MKs amid heated exchanges. Ra’am MK Waleed Taha confronted coalition lawmakers over allegations of civilian casualties in Gaza, while Hadash-Ta’al leader Ayman Odeh nearly clashed with Ben-Gvir, labeling him a “terrorist.”
The bill must now navigate three additional parliamentary stages before it can be enacted into law. As the debate continues, the potential for further polarization within Israeli society looms large.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Observers are keenly watching how public opinion will shift as this contentious issue unfolds. The implications for both medical ethics and legal precedents in Israel are profound, raising questions about the future of capital punishment in the country.
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