Yesterday's discussion in the National Security Committee on the death penalty for terrorists was unnecessary, shameful and harmful.
The families of the abductees pleaded with committee chairman Zvika Fogel to refrain from public discussion of the sensitive issue as their loved ones vacillated between life and death in Gaza. Beyond the danger to abductees, the death penalty is useless. Hamas has proven that the deaths of its soldiers and civilians do not deter it. They sanctify death, and we have no choice but to cut off their ability to spread death, sanctify life, and above all support each other.
The families of the abductees oppose the death penalty law in the committee, photo: Oren Ben Hakon
Instead, yesterday's Knesset showed beaten and hurting Jews shouting at each other. The discussion, which rose to high decibels, must have penetrated the walls of Sinwar's bunker and drew cheers.
In normal times, I would direct my criticism only at elected officials, whose duty it is to hear harsh things and respond respectfully, certainly to people whose lives have not been lived for 46 days. But the normal days died on October 7. So the heroic Almog Cohen went to fight the terrorists with his personal pistol and since then - as he testified - the sights of horror and the smells of death have haunted him. It can be assumed that, like many, he suffers from trauma. I understood this even before he collapsed after being reprimanded in the News 12 studio.
The person who should have prevented this bloody discussion was National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. The person who had to stop the disgrace was MK Zvika Fogel. But unfortunately in the Otzma Yehudit party there is no responsible adult, only children who like to provoke provocations.
This good nation, full of strength, love and compassion, will still find leaders worthy of it.
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