EU slams Israel death penalty bill as Jerusalem accuses bloc of double standards

A diplomatic row erupted on Friday after the European Union condemned an Israeli legislative proposal to impose the death penalty on convicted terrorists, prompting a sharp rebuke from Jerusalem accusing the bloc of hypocrisy.

In a statement, the EU described the advancing bill as “deeply concerning,” reiterating its unequivocal opposition to capital punishment in all circumstances. The bloc warned that enacting such a law would mark a significant step back from Israel’s long-standing policies and urged Israeli authorities to adhere to international norms.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry swiftly rejected the criticism, pushing back against what it called interference in its sovereign legislative affairs. In a pointed response, the ministry accused the EU of applying “double standards” by singling out the Jewish state.

“As always, the EU obsessively singles out Israel—we haven’t seen a tweet like this when it comes to capital punishment in the United States, Japan, India, Egypt, or other countries,” the ministry said.

Israeli officials emphasized that the country is confronting brutal terrorism and stressed that even if the bill becomes law, the judiciary would retain ultimate authority over any implementation of the penalty.