Washington ( WNAM MONITORING): The US on Monday declined to criticize Israel after its parliament approved a controversial law imposing the death penalty on Palestinians convicted of deadly attacks, despite mounting international condemnation.
“The United States respects Israel’s sovereign right to determine its own laws and penalties for individuals convicted of terrorism,” a State Department spokesperson told Anadolu in response to an inquiry.
“We trust that any such measures will be carried out with a fair trial and respect for all applicable fair trial guarantees and protections,” the spokesperson added.
The remarks come as human rights groups, the UN and several countries, including European governments, denounced the legislation as discriminatory and a violation of international law, warning it could amount to “cruel” and “inhuman punishment.”
The law, passed by Israel’s Knesset, makes the death penalty the default punishment for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank convicted of carrying out lethal attacks against Israelis.
More than 9,300 Palestinians, including 350 children and 66 women, are currently imprisoned in Israeli jails, according to data from prisoners’ rights organizations and the Israeli Prison Service.
