Israel’s ambassador to Australia, Hillel Newman, has mounted a firm defence of his country’s contentious new death penalty laws targeting Palestinian militants, alongside its war with Iran and military action in southern Lebanon.
During an address to the National Press Club in Canberra, Dr Newman faced questions regarding the legislation, which makes death by hanging the default punishment for those convicted of deadly attacks by Israel’s military courts.
Critics of the legislation argue that the new measures will exclusively target West Bank Palestinians.
Earlier this week, Australia co-signed a statement with nations including the United Kingdom and Germany, urging Israel not to pass the laws. The joint statement argued that the legislation was “de facto discriminatory”.
Within a Labor caucus meeting, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong responded to questions from MPs, affirming that Australia stands by the concerns raised in the joint statement opposing the laws.
The passage of the legislation was celebrated by far-right members of Israel’s parliament. This included Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, who actively campaigned for the laws while wearing a pin shaped like a noose.
While Israel already has the death penalty enshrined in law, it has only been implemented twice since the 1970s.
Dr Newman stated that the views of countries like Australia were respected, but he argued that differing geography means such nations may not fully comprehend Israel’s position.
“Sometimes people … in different, faraway countries can’t also understand the threat. They can’t understand the situation,” Dr Newman said.
He emphasized that Israel exists in a “difficult neighbourhood,” surrounded by neighbours “who are bent on the destruction of the state of Israel, who are bent on terrorism.”
Dr Newman contrasted this with Australia’s geographical reality, noting that measures necessary for Israel are not required “in a country where your neighbours are New Zealand and Fiji.”
Addressing the application of the legislation, Dr Newman argued that Israel was not obliged to apply the law equally to individuals who are not Israeli citizens.
He stated that the death penalty was required as an additional deterrent to would-be militants crossing the border and attacking communities.
“We reached a situation where you have terrorists on your border, terrorists crossing the border, attacking communities, and the usual punishment is no deterrent” he said.
Dr Newman concluded that militants lack deterrence because “they believe … they get released in exchanges of prisoners.