The European Union (EU) condemned Israel’s death penalty bill saying it is “incompatible with human dignity”.
The death penalty “constitutes inhuman and degrading treatment does not have any proven deterrent effect and allows judicial errors to become irreversible and fatal” a statement released by the EU read on Wednesday.
The statement came hours after the Israeli Knesset in a narrow 52-49 vote approved the first draft of a bill that would make it easier for military courts to impose a death sentence against those involved in murders or “terrorist operations.”
At the moment the death penalty in Israel can only be imposed if a panel of three military judges passes sentence unanimously. However if the amendment is adopted a majority verdict would be sufficient to carry out the death penalty.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voted in favor of the motion.
