Palestinians throwing rocks in Israel could face longer prison terms if a new bill is approved by the Knesset.
The bill comes following weeks of deepening conflict around the Temple Mount and Al-Aksa Mosque, and in Palestinian neighborhoods in East Jerusalem.
Palestinians in the West Bank would not be affected by the bill, according to a JTA report. Nor would it apply to Jewish stone throwers.
Throwing rocks is “a symbol of the Palestinian struggle,” according to a Jerusalem Post editorial, yet it also can be lethal.
However, the newspaper asserts that longer prison time will do “little to deter Palestinians” whose stone-throwing is encouraged by their own leadership, by the dialectic of Israeli occupation versus Palestinian integration, and by lack of Palestinian access to social services in Israel.
If the bill passes the Knesset, it would amend the Israeli penal code and impose harsher sentences for Palestinian rock throwers, many of whom are youths, particularly if “intent to cause harm” can be demonstrated.
Sources for this news roundup:
Rock Throwers in Israel Can Now Be Sentenced to 20 Years
JTA, November 2, 2014
Ministers advance bill jailing rock throwers for up to 20 years
Times of Israel, November 2, 2014
Israel: Palestinian Stone Throwers Facing 20 Years Prison is ‘Panic’ Measure
International Business Times, November 4, 2014
Editorial: Punishing rock-throwing
Jerusalem Post, November 4, 2014