In an op-ed for The Times of Israel, Rosensaft states that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and the Knesset majority passed a law that “deliberately treats Palestinians as inferior” and may further alienate part of the Jewish diaspora.
He emphasizes that this is not about comparing Israel to Nazi Germany, but warns of the danger of selective application of the law.
“I am not comparing Israel to Nazi Germany. However, I am pointing out … that the new death penalty law ‘reeks’ of discriminatory bigotry,” Rosensaft wrote.
The author recalls that in Nazi Germany, laws were often selectively applied against Jews, citing the examples of Markus Luftglass and Leo Katzenberger, who were executed on the basis of laws that only applied to Jews.
Rosensaft points out that the question of the existence of the death penalty in itself is not controversial, but that its application must be equal for everyone.
“In a democracy, laws must be applied equally, regardless of the race, nationality or ethnicity of the accused,” he stated.
He also referred to the statement of opposition representative Gilad Kariv, who assessed the law as “immoral” and contrary to the fundamental values of Israel as a “Jewish and democratic state”.
According to Rosensaft, what makes the law particularly problematic is the fact that it does not cover Israeli settler violence against Palestinians.
“If an Israeli settler killed a Palestinian child, he would not face the death penalty. This is discrimination in its most naked form,” he warns.
A similar position was expressed by the Israeli organization for human rights, which believes that the law “assumes that the lives of Jews are more valuable and worthy of protection.”
Rosensaft also criticizes the political context of the legislation, suggesting that it is a concession by Prime Minister Netanyahu to a far-right partner in power.
“There must be limits even to the megalomaniac desire to stay in power,” he wrote.
In the end, he reminds that the opposition parties have announced an appeal to the Supreme Court of Israel with the aim of annulling the law, expressing the hope that this will happen “as soon as possible”.
The text concludes with a symbolic message on the eve of the Jewish holiday of Pesach, with a message in Yiddish:
“Genug shoyn – it’s more than enough.”
Let us remind you that the disputed law on the death penalty was adopted with the support of the ruling coalition, and it refers to the perpetrators of deadly attacks that the Israeli authorities qualify as terrorism.
Critics, including human rights organizations and part of the opposition, assess that the law undermines the principle of equality before the law and warn that its application in practice could be aimed almost exclusively at Palestinians from the West Bank, which is why initiatives have been announced to challenge it before the Supreme Court of Israel.
(Vijesti.ba)
