Israeli Government Pressures on Death Penalty for Terrorist

The Israeli government is pressuring the Chief, Major General Itay Ofir, to prosecute the terrorist who murdered Natanel Sharon under the new law mandating the death penalty for terrorists. The law was passed by the Knesset approximately six months ago. Sources involved in the case stated that the Military Advocate General's Corps is currently examining the feasibility of this action in the specific circumstances of the incident. In response to the government's inquiry, the Military Advocate General's Corps did not rule out the possibility.

The IDF stated that the investigation of the terrorist is ongoing and its findings have not yet been transferred to the Military Advocate General's Corps. The IDF added that the corps will act independently and professionally according to the law. Sharon, a resident of the settlement of Ali Zahav in the Samaria region, was killed in a shooting attack near the settlement of Neve Tzuf in the Benjamin region shortly before the start of Yom Kippur. He was evacuated in critical condition to the hospital, where his death was pronounced. The terrorist, a resident of the village of Biddo, was captured alive after a manhunt. Sharon is survived by his wife and six children. One of his sons, who was with him during the attack and survived, eulogized him at the funeral, saying, "Thank you, Dad, for what you told me and for saving me." Following the attack, Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir called for the "application of the death penalty law for terrorists" to the attacker.