Israel Sets 'Minimum Sentencing' for Stone-Throwing by Palestinians at Three Years in Prison

The Knesset, Israel's parliament, on Tuesday, November 12, approved a law establishing a 'minimum sentence' of three years for stone-throwing by Palestinians. The law was passed with 51 votes in favor and 17 against, among 120 members of the Israeli parliament. The 'minimum sentence' law for stone throwers was enacted during the second month of a new security crisis between Israel and Palestinians. This law stipulates a three-year prison sentence for those whose stone-throwing is proven to be 'criminal' in judicial proceedings. According to this law, insurance benefits and unemployment rights may be revoked from Palestinian stone throwers over 18 years old and from the parents of Palestinian stone throwers under 18 years old. Israel provides health insurance and unemployment benefits to 350,000 Palestinians residing in East Jerusalem, but under the new law, if a minor stone thrower is convicted, their parents will be deprived of some benefits as citizens of this country. Jamal Zahalka, an Arab member of the Israeli parliament, stated that punishing the parents of teenagers participating in stone-throwing is reprehensible. The draft of this law was presented to the Knesset several months before the recent unrest, with the support of Ayelet Shaked, the Minister of Justice. However, after Palestinian stone-throwing incidents led to the accidental death of a 64-year-old Israeli man in East Jerusalem about 50 days ago, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for the expedited passage of this law. Israel did not impose penalties for stone throwers during the previous two intifadas but claims that recently, stone-throwing and the throwing of Molotov cocktails by Palestinians have increased in neighborhoods close to Jewish residences, disrupting the normal life of Jewish residents. Some Jewish families in this part of the city report that Palestinians have thrown dozens of Molotov cocktails into their homes in a short period. Palestinians also claim that a Molotov cocktail that hit the home of the Dawabsheh family in the village of Duma in the West Bank three months ago killed three members of that family, and Israel has yet to identify the attackers, who were extremist Jews. The recent security crisis began about two months after the burning of the Dawabsheh family and widespread stone-throwing at Al-Aqsa Mosque, and then spread throughout Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza. Israel welcomed the Jordanian king's proposal to install surveillance cameras at Al-Aqsa Mosque, stating that these cameras would prove that Palestinians bring stones and other objects into Al-Aqsa and throw them at Israeli police forces or Jews at the 'Western Wall' during critical days of conflict. At the beginning of this crisis, the Israeli security cabinet authorized the police to shoot at the legs of Palestinians if stone-throwing and Molotov cocktail throwing by Palestinians 'endangered' Israeli lives. According to the Associated Press, supporters of the 'minimum sentencing' law for stone throwers, including Knesset member Nissan Slomianski, have stated that 'a stone can also kill a person, and such a law may have a deterrent effect.' However, Jamal Zahalka, a representative of the United Arab List in the Israeli parliament, stated, 'The flames of this crisis cannot be extinguished by pouring more gasoline on it.' As of November 13, in the ongoing security crisis, eleven Israelis who were victims of violence have been killed, and 69 Palestinians, 43 of whom were attackers with knives, have been shot and killed by Israeli soldiers. Israeli leaders, politicians, and Palestinian clerics are accused of inciting and stirring up trouble based on 'blatant lies' that have led to this crisis. Palestinians say this situation is the grim fruit of despair after 50 years of Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands.