Should terrorists who committed murder face the death penalty?
Death penalty for terrorists
The death penalty for those who murdered out of nationalist motives is fitting deterrence and justice for the victims' families
Oppose the death penalty
The death penalty does not deter, may encourage kidnapping and revenge attacks, and harms Israel's values and standing
The votes concern the law passed in March 2026. Some who voted against it, including Yair Lapid, said they do not oppose the death penalty as such but the wording of the law. Shas was absent from the first-reading vote on the instructions of its Council of Torah Sages, and voted for it in the third reading.
"Said" is the platform, and statements and posts by the list's candidates. "Did" is plenum votes, bills and recorded acts in the 25th Knesset. The placement rests on all the evidence together. The votes are the outgoing Knesset's, not the 26th's.
רק
BeYachad
Mixed position, or evidence pointing both ways· Partial evidence
Said
1 statement in the media · 1 toward "Death penalty for terrorists"
אני לא מתנגד לעונש מוות, אני מתנגד לחוק הזה. זה חוק בלי נוח'בות.
Translation: “I am not against the death penalty, I am against this law. It's a law without Nukhbas.”
The parliamentary record here is that of the Yesh Atid faction in the 25th Knesset. Naftali Bennett's party did not sit in the 25th Knesset, so part of the current list is not represented in the voting data.
All sources (3)▾
רק
BeYachad
Mixed position, or evidence pointing both ways
Partial evidence
What it rests on
Toward "Death penalty for terrorists"Toward "Oppose the death penalty"
Note: The parliamentary record here is that of the Yesh Atid faction in the 25th Knesset. Naftali Bennett's party did not sit in the 25th Knesset, so part of the current list is not represented in the voting data.
1 plenum vote · Official record
Toward: Oppose the death penaltyMarch 30, 2026
23 of the list's MKs voted: 0 for, 23 against. For = to legislate the death penalty for terrorists (third reading, the law passed)
Firm position: Oppose the death penalty· Partial evidence
Said
1 statement in the media · 1 toward "Oppose the death penalty"
חוק עונש מוות למחבלים הוא חוק מיותר שנועד להוסיף לבן גביר לייקים, והוא לא תורם גרם אחד לביטחון ישראל.
Translation: “The death penalty for terrorists law is a superfluous law meant to add likes for Ben Gvir, and it does not contribute one gram to Israel's security.”
The parliamentary record here is that of the Labor faction in the 25th Knesset. Meretz did not sit in the 25th Knesset, so part of the current list is not represented in the voting data.
All sources (5)▾
אמת
The Democrats
Firm position: Oppose the death penalty
Partial evidence
What it rests on
Toward "Death penalty for terrorists"Toward "Oppose the death penalty"
Note: The parliamentary record here is that of the Labor faction in the 25th Knesset. Meretz did not sit in the 25th Knesset, so part of the current list is not represented in the voting data.
4 plenum votes · Official recordVotes marked "routine rejection" are private member's bills from the rival bloc in the preliminary reading, which are almost always rejected regardless of content, so they carry little weight.
Toward: Oppose the death penaltyMarch 30, 2026
4 of the list's MKs voted: 0 for, 4 against. For = to legislate the death penalty for terrorists (third reading, the law passed)
4 of the list's MKs voted: 0 for, 4 against. A vote for requires imposing the death penalty on terrorists who intentionally killed as part of an act of terrorism, as the primary and sole sentence (except in very special circumstances).
Toward: Death penalty for terroristsNovember 10, 2025
20 of the list's MKs voted: 20 for, 0 against. A vote for requires imposing the death penalty on terrorists who intentionally killed as part of an act of terrorism, as the primary and sole sentence (except in very special circumstances).
The current list is a technical bloc of Religious Zionism with Zehut, led by Moshe Feiglin, which did not sit in the 25th Knesset. The voting data reflects Religious Zionism only.
All sources (7)▾
ט
Religious Zionism–Zehut
Firm position: Death penalty for terrorists
Strong evidence
What it rests on
Toward "Death penalty for terrorists"Toward "Oppose the death penalty"
Note: The current list is a technical bloc of Religious Zionism with Zehut, led by Moshe Feiglin, which did not sit in the 25th Knesset. The voting data reflects Religious Zionism only.
6 plenum votes · Official record
Toward: Death penalty for terroristsMarch 30, 2026
7 of the list's MKs voted: 7 for, 0 against. For = to legislate the death penalty for terrorists (third reading, the law passed)
Toward: Death penalty for terroristsNovember 10, 2025
7 of the list's MKs voted: 7 for, 0 against. A vote for requires imposing the death penalty on terrorists who intentionally killed as part of an act of terrorism, as the primary and sole sentence (except in very special circumstances).
The parliamentary record here is that of the Hadash–Ta'al faction in the 25th Knesset only. Balad did not sit in the 25th Knesset, so part of the current list is not represented in the voting data.
All sources (6)▾
ודם
Joint List
Firm position: Oppose the death penalty
Partial evidence
What it rests on
Toward "Death penalty for terrorists"Toward "Oppose the death penalty"
Note: The parliamentary record here is that of the Hadash–Ta'al faction in the 25th Knesset only. Balad did not sit in the 25th Knesset, so part of the current list is not represented in the voting data.
6 plenum votes · Official recordVotes marked "routine rejection" are private member's bills from the rival bloc in the preliminary reading, which are almost always rejected regardless of content, so they carry little weight.
Toward: Oppose the death penaltyMarch 30, 2026
5 of the list's MKs voted: 0 for, 5 against. For = to legislate the death penalty for terrorists (third reading, the law passed)
5 of the list's MKs voted: 0 for, 5 against. A vote for requires imposing the death penalty on terrorists who intentionally killed as part of an act of terrorism, as the primary and sole sentence (except in very special circumstances).
Firm position: Oppose the death penalty· Strong evidence
Said
1 statement in the media · 1 toward "Oppose the death penalty"
אביגדור ליברמן ואיתמר בן גביר אינם יודעים להתמודד עם העמדה והשקפת עולמה של 'דגל התורה' נגד חוק עונש מוות למחבלים
Translation: “Avigdor Liberman and Itamar Ben Gvir do not know how to deal with the position and worldview of 'Degel HaTorah' against the Death Penalty for Terrorists Law”
4 plenum votes · 4 toward "Oppose the death penalty"
4 of the list's MKs voted: 0 for, 4 against. For = to legislate the death penalty for terrorists (third reading, the law passed) The list voted against its bloc's line in this vote.
Toward "Death penalty for terrorists"Toward "Oppose the death penalty"
4 plenum votes · Official record
Toward: Oppose the death penaltyMarch 30, 2026
4 of the list's MKs voted: 0 for, 4 against. For = to legislate the death penalty for terrorists (third reading, the law passed) The list voted against its bloc's line in this vote.
2 of the list's MKs voted: 0 for, 2 against. A vote for requires imposing the death penalty on terrorists who intentionally killed as part of an act of terrorism, as the primary and sole sentence (except in very special circumstances). The list voted against its bloc's line in this vote.
Leaning toward Oppose the death penalty· Weak evidence
Said
We found no platform text, statement or post by the list on this subject.
Did
1 vote by the list's candidates · 1 toward "Oppose the death penalty"
3 of the list's candidates who served in the 25th Knesset voted: 0 for, 3 against. For = to legislate the death penalty for terrorists (third reading, the law passed)
The votes here are the personal votes of the list's candidates who served in the 25th Knesset, not votes by the list.
What it rests on
Toward "Death penalty for terrorists"Toward "Oppose the death penalty"
1 vote by the list's candidates · Official recordThe list itself did not serve in the 25th Knesset, so these are the personal votes of its candidates who did serve, not votes by the list.
Toward: Oppose the death penaltyMarch 30, 2026
3 of the list's candidates who served in the 25th Knesset voted: 0 for, 3 against. For = to legislate the death penalty for terrorists (third reading, the law passed)
Firm position: Death penalty for terrorists· Strong evidence
Said
1 statement in the media · 1 toward "Death penalty for terrorists"
1 tweet · 1 toward "Death penalty for terrorists"
סגרו כעת דיל עם טיבי וכסיף נגד חוק עונש מוות למחבלים ש'ישראל ביתנו' תעלה היום להצבעה
Translation: “They have now closed a deal with Tibi and Cassif against the death penalty for terrorists law that 'Yisrael Beytenu' will bring to a vote today”
6 plenum votes · 6 toward "Death penalty for terrorists"
3 bills on the issue · 1 toward "Death penalty for terrorists" · 1 context only
4 of the list's MKs voted: 4 for, 0 against. For = to legislate the death penalty for terrorists (third reading, the law passed) The list voted against its bloc's line in this vote.
Toward "Death penalty for terrorists"Toward "Oppose the death penalty"
6 plenum votes · Official record
Toward: Death penalty for terroristsMarch 30, 2026
4 of the list's MKs voted: 4 for, 0 against. For = to legislate the death penalty for terrorists (third reading, the law passed) The list voted against its bloc's line in this vote.
Toward: Death penalty for terroristsNovember 10, 2025
6 of the list's MKs voted: 6 for, 0 against. A vote for requires imposing the death penalty on terrorists who intentionally killed as part of an act of terrorism, as the primary and sole sentence (except in very special circumstances). The list voted against its bloc's line in this vote.
Toward: Death penalty for terroristsNovember 10, 2025
6 of the list's MKs voted: 6 for, 0 against. A vote for requires imposing the death penalty on terrorists who intentionally killed as part of an act of terrorism, as the primary and sole sentence (except in very special circumstances).
Toward "Death penalty for terrorists"Toward "Oppose the death penalty"
6 plenum votes · Official recordVotes marked "routine rejection" are private member's bills from the rival bloc in the preliminary reading, which are almost always rejected regardless of content, so they carry little weight.
Toward: Oppose the death penaltyMarch 30, 2026
5 of the list's MKs voted: 0 for, 5 against. For = to legislate the death penalty for terrorists (third reading, the law passed)
5 of the list's MKs voted: 0 for, 5 against. A vote for requires imposing the death penalty on terrorists who intentionally killed as part of an act of terrorism, as the primary and sole sentence (except in very special circumstances).
