Israel ends death penalty practice?

This week, Israel voted in favor of a United Nations resolution calling for a global moratorium on death penalty in an effort to abolish the practice altogether.

Jerusalem on November 13 was one 123 countries that supported Resolution A/C.3/73/L.44, which "expresses its deep concern about the continued application of the death penalty" and "welcomes the steps taken by some states to reduce the number of offences for which the death penalty may be imposed."

Thirty-six countries opposed the motion. Thirty abstained.

The resolution, discussed biannually by the UN General Assembly’s Third Committee, welcomes "initiatives and political leadership encouraging national discussions and debates on the possibility of moving away from capital punishment through domestic decision-making." 

It also hailed the fact that an increasing number countries decided to "apply a moratorium on executions, followed in many cases by the abolition of the death penalty."

The resolution calls on states to “progressively restrict the use of the death penalty” and to decrease the number of offenses punishable by death, The Times of Israel reported.