Council of Europe urges Israel to abandon death penalty expansion plans

Council of Europe News

Published March 29th, 2026

Detected March 29th, 2026

Summary

The Council of Europe's Secretary General Alain Berset has urged Israel to abandon legislative proposals that would expand the death penalty. This action follows similar expressions of concern from the Council of Europe's Ministers' Deputies and PACE General Rapporteur on the abolition of the death penalty.

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What changed

Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset has formally appealed to Israel's leadership, including the Speaker of the Knesset and the President of Israel, to abandon current legislative proposals that would expand the use of the death penalty. Berset expressed deep concern, stating that the death penalty has no place in modern justice and is incompatible with fundamental human rights, emphasizing that such a move would represent a significant step backward from Israel's existing de facto moratorium.

While this is a non-binding appeal, it carries significant political weight given Israel's observer status with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and its participation in various cooperation mechanisms. Regulated entities and legal professionals involved in international relations or human rights advocacy should be aware that this development signals a potential divergence from European human rights standards and international law, which could impact Israel's alignment with the Council of Europe's value framework. The Council of Europe continues to advocate for the universal abolition of the death penalty.

What to do next

Review current legislative proposals in Israel concerning the death penalty.
Assess potential implications for international human rights standards and Israel's alignment with European values.

Source document (simplified)

Back Secretary General Alain Berset urges Israel to abandon plans to expand the death penalty

Council of Europe principles have led to clear European consensus on right to life and prohibition of capital punishment

Council of Europe General Secretary Alain Berset

Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset has issued a direct appeal to Israel’s leadership, urging them to abandon legislative proposals currently before the Knesset that would expand the death penalty. In official letters addressed to Speaker of the Knesset, Amir Ohana, and to the President of the State of Israel, Isaac Herzog, he has expressed deep concern over the potential consequences of these measures. ****

“The Council of Europe opposes the death penalty in all places and in all circumstances. The texts currently under examination in the Knesset would represent a grave step backwards from Israel’s long-standing de facto moratorium. I call on the Israeli authorities to abandon these proposals,” said the Secretary General.

The death penalty has no place in modern justice and is incompatible with respect for fundamental human rights. In line with those principles, capital punishment cannot be applied by the 46 Council of Europe member states, reflecting a clear and longstanding regional consensus grounded in respect for human dignity and the right to life.

Israel abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1954 and has carried out no executions since 1962. On 25 March 2026, the Council of Europe’s Ministers’ Deputies expressed deep concern over the draft laws currently under examination in the Knesset that would expand the death penalty in Israel and called on the Israeli authorities to abandon them. On 27 March 2026, PACE General Rapporteur on the abolition of the death penalty Gala Veldhoen also urged Knesset members to reject the bill.

The Knesset has held observer status with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe since 1957, and Israel also participates in a number of Council of Europe conventions and cooperation mechanisms.

In this context, any development departing from European human rights standards risks moving Israel further away from the framework of values with which it has long chosen to align itself. This also raises broader concerns regarding respect for international law.

The Secretary General has also informed the Ministers’ Deputies — the representatives of the Council of Europe’s 46 member states responsible for ongoing decision-making — of the steps taken.

The Council of Europe continues to work for the universal abolition of the death penalty, in line with the Reykjavik Declaration adopted by Heads of State and Government in 2023.

Secretary General Alain Berset

Who is a member and who is an observer of the Council of Europe?

The Council of Europe and abolition of the death penalty

Secretary General Strasbourg 29 March 2026
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2026-03-29T04:10:00