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EU slams Israel move to approve death sentence

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The European Union has slammed Israel move to approve a death sentence on assailants convicted of murder in attacks classified as terrorism.

The EU says it’s opposed to death penalty and is working on its abolition. The amendment to the penal code would still require three more readings if it is to become law.

Israel’s parliament gave preliminary approval on Wednesday for legislation that would make it easier for a court to impose a death sentence on assailants convicted of murder in attacks classified as terrorism.

Israeli military courts which handle cases involving Palestinians in the occupied West Bank – already have the power to issue the death sentence, although this has never been implemented.

The only case of an execution in Israel was carried out against convicted Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann in 1962

Asked by an Israeli Arab lawmaker whether he would also apply the reasoning to Jewish militants convicted of killing Palestinians, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said in principle, yes.

“I think that in extreme situations there is simple logic and that simple logic is that ,whom slaughters and laughs will not spend the rest of his life in jail but rather, will be executed.”

The European Union criticized the move. It says the death penalty is incompatible with human dignity.

It constitutes inhuman and degrading treatment, does not have any proven deterrent effect and allows judicial errors to become irreversible and fatal.

EU Spokesperson Carlos Martin Ruiz De Gorde Juela says:”As you know, the European Union is opposed to the death penalty under all circumstances and cases with no exception, and we are working at its universal abolition.”

None of the EU’s 28 member states permits the death penalty,the last member state to abolish the death penalty, Latvia, banned executions in 2012.

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