BRUSSELS, March 31, 2026 (WAFA) - The European Union has expressed strong concern following the approval of a death penalty bill by the Israeli parliament, the Knesset.

In a statement issued by the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on behalf of the EU, the bloc reaffirmed its principled opposition to the death penalty in all cases and under all circumstances.

The EU noted that Israel had long maintained a de facto moratorium on both executions and capital punishment sentencing, which it said had set an example in the region despite the country’s complex security environment.

According to the statement, the approval of the death penalty bill marks a serious regression from that long-standing practice and from Israel’s own commitments. The EU also expressed deep concern about the bill’s de facto discriminatory character.

The EU urged Israel to uphold its previous position and comply with its obligations under international law, as well as its commitment to democratic principles, including those reflected in the EU–Israel Association Agreement.

The bloc emphasized that the death penalty constitutes a violation of the right to life and cannot be carried out without breaching the absolute prohibition against torture and other forms of ill-treatment. It also stressed that capital punishment has no proven deterrent effect and makes any judicial errors irreversible. 

M.N