Keir Starmer is under pressure to suspend a trade agreement with Israel following the passing of a controversial death penalty law deemed discriminatory. Leading charities, including Oxfam UK and ActionAid UK, are advocating for the UK government to pause the deal until there is an end to widespread violations of international law. The new Israeli law allows for the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of killing Israelis, marking the culmination of a push to increase penalties for nationalistic offenses against Israelis.
In response to the law, ActionAid’s Jamil Sawalmeh expressed concerns, stating that for Palestinians, this law is part of a systematic assault on various aspects of Palestinian life. Several humanitarian and human rights organizations, such as War on Want and Human Rights Watch, have criticized the legislation as discriminatory and primarily targeting Palestinians. They are urging the UK government to take action to repeal this law and ensure compliance with international standards.
The law, which was personally supported by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, specifies hanging as the default punishment for Palestinians from the West Bank convicted of nationalistic crimes. While Israeli courts can also consider the death penalty for Israeli citizens on similar charges, experts note that the language effectively targets Palestinian citizens and excludes Jewish citizens. The law does not apply retroactively to prisoners already in Israeli custody, including those involved in past conflicts.
Prior to the law’s approval, the UK had already halted negotiations with Israel on a new free trade agreement due to concerns over Israel’s actions. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, alongside foreign ministers from other countries, voiced deep concerns about the discriminatory nature of the bill, emphasizing the potential impact on Israel’s democratic principles. They urged Israeli decision-makers to reconsider the legislation.
Overall, the move to suspend the trade agreement and condemn the death penalty law reflects a growing international concern over human rights abuses and discriminatory practices in Israel.