Death penalty law 'a deep stain on the law books of the state of Israel'

François Picard is pleased to welcome Dr. Gershon Baskin, former hostage negotiator and Middle East Director of the International Communities Organisation. As someone deeply embedded in the realities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, he argues that recent developments, including the proposed death penalty law, are not isolated measures but symptoms of a broader shift toward exclusionary nationalism, legal inequality, and militarized thinking. These trends, intensified by the trauma of October 7th and prolonged conflict, risk redefining Israel’s identity in ways that challenge both its democratic foundations and its standing in the international community. All the while, he maintains that this trajectory is neither inevitable nor irreversible. History shows that even in deeply polarized societies, political imagination and diplomatic engagement remain the only viable paths toward sustainable peace. His hope is that both Israeli society and its international partners will recognize this before the current course becomes entrenched beyond repair.