The Knesset completed legislation of a “Youth Bill” that will allow courts to imprison a minor of twelve if he is convicted of serious crimes such as murder, attempted murder or manslaughter. Thirty-two MKs voted in favor of the bill versus sixteen who opposed and one who abstained.
“The seriousness that we attach to terror and acts of terror that cause bodily injury and property damage, and the fact that these acts of terror are being carried out by minors, demands a more aggressive approach including toward minors who are convicted of offenses, particularly serious offenses,” the bill said.
The new law stipulates that convicted terrorists of twelve years will be held in closed facilities and sent to jail when they turn fourteen.
”This law was born of necessity,” a sponsor of the bill said. “We have been experiencing a wave of terror for quite some time. A society is allowed to protect itself. To those who are murdered with a knife in the heart it does not matter if the child is twelve or fifteen. We`ve witnessed numerous cases where eleven-year-old children were suicide bombers. Perhaps this law will also do something to protect these children from being used to slaughter people.”
An impetus to legislate the bill was the case of a thirteen-year-old who was convicted with his fifteen-year-old cousin for the attempted murder of two Jews in Pisgat Ze’ev, Yerushalayim. Due to his young age, it was initially impossible to sentence him to imprisonment.
David Steger – Matzav.com Israel
The law should be less ambiguous, to leave no loopholes, and include even younger ages.