Abolition of the death penalty

Secretary General Alain Berset deplores serious setback following passing of law expanding use of death penalty in Israel

The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, has expressed his deep concern after the adoption, on 30 March 2026, by the Knesset, of a law expanding the use of the death penalty in Israel. This adoption comes despite repeated calls to the Israeli authorities, notably by the Council of Europe, to renounce it.

The entry into force of this law would mark a further distancing of Israel from the framework of values with which it has historically chosen to associate itself. Israel abolished the death penalty for common crimes in 1954 and has carried out no executions since 1962. The adoption of this law, which expands the application of the death penalty in the country, represents a serious regression.

The death penalty is a legal anachronism incompatible with contemporary human-rights standards. Moreover, any application of the death penalty that could be characterised as discriminatory is unacceptable in a state governed by the rule of law.

The Council of Europe opposes the death penalty in all places and under all circumstances. It continues its efforts in favor of the universal abolition of the death penalty, in accordance with the Reykjavik Declaration adopted by Heads of State and Government in 2023. The death penalty is incompatible with fundamental rights and with respect for human dignity.

The Knesset has held observer status with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe since 1957. In addition, Israel is party to a number of Council of Europe conventions and participates in several of its cooperation mechanisms.

In this context, the Council of Europe will closely monitor upcoming developments regarding this law. It will examine its implications for the Council of Europe conventions to which Israel is a party, as well as for the cooperation mechanisms in which this state participates.

 Secretary General Alain Berset deplores serious setback following passing of law expanding use of death penalty in Israel

PACE President: Knesset vote ‘seriously jeopardises’ Israel’s observer status with the Assembly.

“I am deeply disappointed by last night’s vote in the Knesset, which seriously jeopardises Israel’s observer status with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe,” said PACE President Petra Bayr, reacting to the Israeli parliament’s approval of a new law expanding the death penalty in a way which discriminates against Palestinians.

“This is a serious setback, and distances Israel from the values of the Council of Europe, which stands strongly against the death penalty anywhere and in all circumstances. I hope that the Israeli Supreme Court will now reject this law, which is a violation of Israel’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, including the prohibition on discrimination,” she added.

“This setback and its repercussions on Israel’s observer status will most likely be raised during a coming debate on the abolition of the death penalty by the Assembly on Wednesday 22 April in Strasbourg.”

 PACE President: Knesset vote ‘seriously jeopardises’ Israel’s observer status with the Assembly