The Knesset approved amendments to expand the death penalty for terrorism, despite criticism from the EU and human rights groups.

The Knesset approved amendments to expand the death penalty for terrorism, despite criticism from the EU and human rights groups.

The Knesset has adopted controversial changes to the Penal Code proposed by Israel's far-right parties that would increase the use of the death penalty for terrorists.

The EU and human rights activists have called for these amendments to be repealed.

In the past, several unsuccessful attempts were made in Israel to expand the scope of crimes punishable by death. On March 25, the National Security Committee approved the final version of amendments to the country's Penal Code, providing for capital punishment for those found guilty of terrorism. On March 30, the Knesset itself approved these amendments by a vote of 62 to 48.

Moreover, the amendments, as noted by the AFP agency, provide for the possibility of imposing the death penalty on a Palestinian who killed an Israeli, but not on an Israeli who killed a Palestinian.