Israel's new death penalty 'systematically targets Palestinians': Anand

strange Affairs government minister Anita Anand says Canada is condemning Israel's young dying penalty jurisprudence, saying it "systematically targets Palestinians."

"This discriminatory law adds to a growing list of actions which enables illegal settler violence while dehumanizing the Palestinian people," Anand wrote in a social media post on Tuesday.

"Canada unequivocally opposes its application. We reaffirm our commitment to human rights and the global movement to abolish the death penalty."

Israel's Knesset — the country's parliament — passed the law on Monday, approving the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of murdering Israelis.

The legislation orders West Bank military courts — which try only Palestinians — to make the death penalty by hanging the default sentence for those convicted, except in special circumstances.

The law also gives Israeli courts the authority to impose either the death penalty or life imprisonment on its own citizens. It is not retroactive and will apply only to future cases.

Australia, Germany, the U.K. And France put out a joint statement Tuesday that also panned the new law.

"We are particularly worried about the de facto discriminatory character of the bill. The adoption of this bill would risk undermining Israel’s commitments with regards to democratic principles," the joint statement said.

Ireland's foreign minister put out a similar condemnation on Monday.

Critics include Israelis and Palestinians, international rights groups and the United Nations. They say that it establishes a hierarchy between Israeli court systems in a way that will confine the death penalty to Palestinians convicted of murdering Jewish citizens of Israel.

The law is set to take effect in 30 days but its implementation could be delayed by pending court proceedings at Israel's highest tribunal.

The bill's passage marked the culmination of a yearslong push by Israel's far right to escalate punishment for Palestinians convicted of offenses against Israelis. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu came to the chamber to vote yes in person.

When the measure passed, the chamber erupted into cheers. Israel's firebrand minister of national security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, who spearheaded the push for the legislation, brandished a bottle in celebration.

Ben-Gvir was one of two Israeli cabinet ministers sanctioned by Canada last year.

Hundreds of protesters took to the streets across the Palestinian territories on Tuesday to denounce the law's passage.

The law passed against the backdrop of a widening war in the Middle East.

Anand's statement comes just hours after Prime Minister Mark Carney condemned Israel's invasion of Lebanon, which he calls "illegal" and a violation of territorial sovereignty.

Israel invaded southern Lebanon after Hezbollah began launching missiles into northern Israel days after Israel and the U.S. Attacked Iran.

Hundreds of thousands of Lebanese have been displaced by the escalating war and evacuation orders have emptied out many villages and neighbourhoods.

Senior writer

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