Category: Israel

Israel passes death penalty bill for Palestinians


The Knesset passes a highly discriminatory law

March 2026

The Israeli Knesset has just passed by a majority of 62 a bill which will allow the executions of Palestinians convicted of fatal attacks in the West Bank. The executions will take place by hanging and do so it is planned, 90 days after conviction or in some cases 180 days. The law is nakedly discriminatory and is a piece with the apartheid policy which exists in the country. No appeals will be allowed and legal contact with the convicted person is via video link only. The Knesset erupted into loud cheers and Ben Gvir was seen waving a champagne bottle in celebration. An illustration of the lapel badge he wears is below.

It has brought a wide range of condemnation from around the world. It will do nothing for Israel’s somewhat battered reputation internationally. A statement by Amnesty International said:

‘Today, Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, adopted the first in what threatens to be a series of laws facilitating the use of the death penalty, in a public display of cruelty, discrimination and utter contempt for human rights. The amendment added to Israel’s Penal Law, known as the ‘Death Penalty for Terrorists’, expands the scope and facilitates the use of capital punishment, at a time when there is a global trend towards abolishing it. It also dismantles fundamental safeguards to prevent the arbitrary deprivation of life and protect the right to a fair trial, and further empowers Israel’s system of apartheid, which is maintained by scores of discriminatory laws against Palestinians.’ Erika Guevara-Rosas, Amnesty International’s Senior Director of Research, Advocacy, Policy and Campaigns.

The Palestinian Prisoner’s Society called it a ‘historic escalation – a new phase of openly sanctioned [and] politically motivated executions of Palestinian prisoners’.

Torture and mistreatment

A particular problem is that Palestinians are imprisoned and subject to considerable mistreatment. This can include starvation, physical assaults of various kinds and lack of medical attention. The Times of Israel among others have reported on the inhuman conditions. Testimony and confessions therefore, produced under this system of abuse and torture, will have little credence. Some of the descriptions are horrific and there is a WARNING about the following link.

The problem here is that violence begets violence. An almost ceaseless tide of violence in Gaza, southern Lebanon, parts of Syria, the West Bank and now Iran, has bred into the society that yet more violence is the answer to the security of the state.

Large numbers of British MPs from all parties are members of the Friends of Israel groups, funded by the Israeli government, including the Trade Minister, Peter Kyle. The Salisbury MP, Mr John Glen is a member of this lobby group.

Amnesty is opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances. Mistakes cannot afterwards be corrected. It is not a deterrent and it imposes huge stresses on those who carry out the punishment. The local group publishes a report each month on its use around the world.

Sources: Times of Israel, BBC, Guardian, Palestine Prisoner’s Society, Al Jazeera

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Well attended vigil


Strong attendance at 121st vigil

March 2026

Around 36 attended the 121st vigil and it was pleasing to welcome some passers-by who stopped to join in. Nearly half the cars sounded their horns. Here is a video of the vigil. The vigils started because of the horrific events on October 7th and the ensuing violence in Gaza where the death toll stands at 72,267. The violence continues and around 4 weeks ago, both Israel and the US have started a bombing campaign in Iran and very recently, Israel has started a ground and bombing campaign in Lebanon. In the past few days, the Houthis in Yemen have recommenced their campaign sending missiles towards Israel.

There has never been a sign of the local MP Mr John Glen at any of the vigils nor any mention of them in his weekly column afforded to him by the Salisbury Journal. Mr Glen has claimed in the paper to be a proud member of the Conservative Friends of Israel group. Another member of the Labour party version is the Trade Minister highlighted in our previous post (see link below).

Use of white phosphorus

The violence seems set to continue with civilian casualties mounting on all sides but mostly in Iran and Lebanon. A particularly troubling development last week was a report by Human Rights Watch producing evidence that Israel is using white phosphorus in southern Lebanon. White phosphorus is a chemical substance dispersed in artillery shells, bombs, and rockets which ignites when exposed to oxygen. It can set homes, agricultural areas, and other civilian objects on fire. Technically, it is not a chemical weapon.

Under international humanitarian law, the use of airburst white phosphorus is unlawfully indiscriminate in populated areas and does not meet the legal requirement to take all feasible precautions to avoid civilian harm. The effects on humans is fearful. Biology Insights report ‘direct contact with white phosphorus leads to severe and immediate localized damage, primarily through chemical and thermal injuries. White phosphorus ignites spontaneously when exposed to air, typically at temperatures ranging from 30 to 50 degrees Celsius. This ignition initiates a highly exothermic reaction, releasing significant heat and causing the substance to burn fiercely at temperatures between 800 and 2500 degrees Celsius. The burning continues until the phosphorus is consumed or deprived of oxygen.

‘The resulting burns are profoundly painful and can be full-thickness, extending through all layers of the skin. White phosphorus particles readily adhere to skin and clothing. Because the substance is highly lipid-soluble, it can penetrate deeply into underlying fatty tissues, muscles, and even bone. This deep penetration leads to extensive tissue necrosis [death of cells] at the point of contact‘.

Inhalation is also extremely painful and causes lung damage and possibly renal failure.

‘Beyond horrific‘

A 2023 Amnesty report described its use then as ‘beyond horrific’. The weapon also contaminates the ground and makes its future use problematic for agriculture. Since most villages in the area are dependent on agriculture it has profound economic effects as well.

Hastings protest by Jewish people

This short moving video taken by Hastings Jews for Justice is a protest against Israel’s planned execution law for Palestinians only. Palestinians in Israeli prisons are already tortured, abused, starved and raped. They will be hanged if this law is enacted. There is no appeal. They claim it is state-sanctioned murder. HJJ calls on all MPs to condemn this vile law. Please add your name to the HJJ letter here: https://forms.gle/gnEgkRs553z5Yi617 HJJ Website: https://www.hastingsjewsforjustice.org/ This Guardian article provides an update on the progress through the Knesset.

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Photo & video: Peter Gloyns

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Is a two state solution possible?


Talk at the Exeter conference

March 2026

This was the title of one of the talks at the Exeter conference organised by the local Amnesty group. Answer: no. The talk was given by Abdullah al Anjari (pictured) who is a doctoral researcher in Palestine studies at the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies, University of Exeter, and a member of the European Centre for Palestine Studies. His talk focused on three key elements of the problem: Jerusalem, the refusal to allow Palestinians to return and the actions of the West Bank. Together they meant the prospects for a Palestinian state near impossible. He might have added a general lack of support by other countries for this cause and the unqualified support by the US of Israel.

The removal of large numbers of Palestinians from Jerusalem began in 1948 and has continued sporadically since. It was important to realise that it was Christians who were expelled not just Arabs and Palestinians. Only two weeks previously the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was closed. This is a rarity in the 1,700 year history of the building.

Palestinians do not have the right to return to the lands they previously lived in. It is often forgotten that a significant number of those living in Gaza are themselves refugees.

Thirdly he said, there is the West Bank where around 700,000 Jewish people are now living. A further nineteen new settlements are currently being established. Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a settler who proposed the move alongside Defence Minister Israel Katz, said the decision was about blocking the establishment of a Palestinian state. Alongside the settlement push has been a steady increase in violence against Palestinians and Arabs living there with no protection offered by the army or police. Abdullah called this ‘settler colonialism’.

Apartheid state

There have been many UN resolutions on this matter which have been ignored. What can we do? He focused on the Apartheid state operated by Israel. There have been a number of detailed reports setting out the mechanics of the state and how Palestinians are second class citizens in their own land. The Israeli human rights organisation B’Tselem, Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty International have all produced extensive reports on the system. These have been variously dismissed by Israel and anti-Semitic and anti-Israel. The world took comprehensive action against Apartheid in South Africa and eventually the system was unsustainable. So far there is no move to apply those principles to Israel.

South Africa became a pariah state and its sports teams were boycotted and foreign companies were eventually persuaded to disinvest or stop trading. Writing to MPs was suggested. However a significant number of MPs are members of the Friends or Israel groups so are unlikely to support any action to boycott Israeli goods for example. Pressure could be applied to local government pension schemes not to invest in arms companies dealing with the country. The powerful Zionist influence in both the US and UK was noted.

Keeping up the momentum of vigils and campaigning was important in raising awareness and not allowing the injustice to continue. The prospects for a Palestinian state are almost nil was the gloomy conclusion. The seeming endless violence against its neighbours, the uncritical support of the US and other countries and a supine media landscape were all facts acting against some kind of peaceful solution for the region.

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Vigil No 120 attracts strong support


The need for the vigil as strong as ever

March 2026

Middle East violence continues. Over 1,000 dead as Lebanon attacked. Al Jazeera reports over 1,500 dead in Iran with many injured and 18 killed in Israel. The economic effects promise to be catastrophic with many economies under great strain if the hostilities continue. Killing continues in Gaza where the death toll is put at 72,268.

Ammendment

The bombing by US Tomahawks of the Minab school in Iran has received coverage in the UK. Around 175 were killed the majority of whom were girls. A moving video has been produced by protestors at Fairford in Gloucestershire from where the bombers took off. It was claimed by the prime minister that UK facilities could only be used for defensive purposes. President Trump claimed it was done by the Iranians themselves. As they do not have this weapon this is virtually impossible. Added 25 March.

Violence in the West Bank is increasing and some suggest it is because the world’s attention is focused on the current hostilities in Iran and the closure of the straight of Hormuz. This enables Palestinian villages to be attacked by settlers. There is however, an interesting report in Haaretz who say that JD Vance, the American vice president, ‘castigated Benyamin Netanyahu’ over the increased settler violence since the Iran war started. Trump promised action to the Arab nations about this violence but does not appear to have done anything.

Lebanon is under attack including the capital Beirut. The Defence minister Israel Katz is quoted in the Jewish Chronicle as saying: “hundreds of thousands of residents of southern Lebanon who evacuated northward will not return south of the Litani River until security for the residents of the north [of Israel] is ensured“. It would appear from some statements from Israeli politicians and military people that the occupation of southern Lebanon may be permanent: “the Litani [river] must be our new border with the state of Lebanon, just like the ‘Yellow Line’ in Gaza and like the buffer zone and peak of the Hermon in Syria,” Katz added, in reference to the current IDF deployment to Gaza and the Israeli presence in southwestern Syria.

‘There are no innocent children in Jenin’ a member of the Knesset said following a Palestinian family gunned down on the West Bank (source: Haaretz).

Golders Green violence

Four ambulances belonging to Hatzolah in Golders Green were set on fire and destroyed on 23rd March causing immense distress to the Jewish community in the area. The reasons for the attack or who committed the crime is unknown at present and the police are investigating. UPDATE: 27 March: two men have been arrested (26th inst) according to the Metropolitan Police.

Salisbury vigil

People are still disturbed by the continuing violence, the attacks on Iran by Israel and the US, and how the conflict is widening. There was strong attendance at the latest vigil. Deaths, including many civilian deaths and starvation, continue in Gaza, the war has spread to Lebanon and Iran as already noted. Although we do not know the precise objectives of the Iranian attacks, there were speeches by President Trump and other senior cabinet members which suggested regime change was one hope. This does not look likely now.

120 vigils and no sign of the local MP Mr John Glen and no mention of them in his weekly column in the local paper. In a letter to the Salisbury Journal (19 March) he said he was a ‘proud member’ of the Conservative Friends of Israel group.

Sources: Al Jazeera, Jewish Chronicle, Haaretz, Middle East Eye, Guardian

A video of the vigil can be seen here – courtesy of Peter Gloyns.

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This month’s Death Penalty report


Report for mid – February to mid – March

March 2026

We are pleased to attach this month’s report on the use of the death penalty around the world thanks to group member Lesley for the work in compiling it. It features several US states, Iran, Israel and India. We note as ever that China is thought to be the world’s largest executioner of its citizens but details are a state secret.

Report (Word)Download

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Yet more violence in the Middle East


Vigil continues with Israeli and US attacks on Iran

March 2026

For 118 weeks now, we have held a vigil in Salisbury with the theme peace in the Middle East. Around 30 attended yesterday (7 March) and the hope must be that one day it would end. Any such hopes were dashed last week when Israel led an attack on Tehran and other Iranian cities followed by the Americans. They claim that all Iranian air defences are destroyed together with their air force and navy. The attacks continue and Israel has now restarted its attacks on Lebanon.

The objectives of the latest campaign are unclear. One aspect is to destroy Iran’s nuclear ambitions which President Trump has already claimed were destroyed. The other is to enable regime change and initially that appears to have happened because the late supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei and his top aids, were tracked to a location enabling them to be assassinated. There was a hope that the people of Iran would rise up and evict the regime.

Thus the violence has continued and taken on a new life. There have been many implications well aired in the press: retaliation from Iran and its dramatic effects on the Gulf states, the closure of the Straights of Hormuz with its effects on oil and gas prices and the closure of the important air hub at Dubai. International stock markets have fallen and energy prices have risen dramatically.

It has also had ramifications for UK politics basically between those who think we should support Israel and the US and those who do not think yet more bombing and violence is a way to conduct foreign affairs. Arguments have surfaced about Britain’s role in offering support via its bases in Fairford Gloucestershire, Cyprus and the Indian Ocean. Initially denied, within days they were made available to the Americans.

The most damaging feature of this latest violence is the erosion of international law. Attacks on foreign states has rapidly become normal behaviour. As ever, it is not the leaders and politicians who suffer, but those at the receiving end of missile, drone and bombing attacks.

“The escalating crisis in the Middle East poses a grave threat to multilateralism and to the integrity of the international legal order. Unlawful acts by parties to the conflict, particularly those committed by influential states, not only endanger civilians across multiple countries, but also accelerate the erosion of the global norms that are essential for the protection of human rights and global peace and security.” Agnès Callamard, Secretary General, Amnesty International. (March 3rd)

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Vigil on the day war threatens in Middle East


The 117th vigil took place on the day Israel and US attack Iran

March 2026

Reports today (March 1st) that Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is dead killed by an air strike from Israel. President Trump promised to end foreign wars yet here we are with US and Israeli forces engaged in bombing Iran. There have been retaliations by Iran. The UK’s involvement is as yet unclear but RAF jets are reported to be airborne in defence of some Gulf states and no doubt other assistance has been offered.

About 30 attended the 117th vigil in Salisbury in what seems almost a forlorn hope of seeing peace in the region. To engage in yet more military actions with all the tens of thousands already dead, seems an utterly pointless exercise which may bring short-term advantages but has no prospect of longer term stability.

Both Israel and the US are concerned by Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Yet no mention is ever made that Israel is a nuclear state. The Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation estimate the country has 90 such weapons and sufficient nuclear material for another 100. Considerable secrecy surrounds this fact and needless to say western media almost never mention it.

Part of the rationale for these recent attacks is to rid Iran of its murderous leadership the head of which appears to have been killed yesterday. The idea that the death of Khamenei is going to lead to some kind of peaceful conclusion and regime change is fanciful. Even if the current regime is deposed in some kind of coup or insurrection, who knows who or what will replace them? There is no obvious successor and the immediate outcome is likely to be instability. This action is more to do with domestic troubles being experienced by Messrs Trump and Netanyahu. And what about the Board of Peace?

Israeli supporting press are broadly in favour. Bringing peace, human rights and stability to a country by dropping bombs on it seems an odd way to go about things. We tried that in Iraq…

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Palestine Action ban lifted: for now


High Court finds the ban on Palestine Action ‘disproportionate’

February 2026

The High Court has ruled that the ban on Palestine Action is disproportionate and banning it unlawful. The ban remains in place however as the government is minded to appeal the decision which will take place later this month. The decision is a major victory for the right of free speech and the right of assembly. Liberty and Amnesty have both appealed to the Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, to respect the decision. It represents a severe blow to the government. Around 2,500 have been arrested during protests.

It is worth remembering the way PA was banned by the then Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper. Almost certainly she knew the likelihood of achieving a successful vote in parliament was unlikely, so they were lumped in with two extreme white supremacist groups, the Maniacs Murder Cult and the Russia Imperial Movement. Labour members were then whipped to pass the measure. Local MPs Sir Desmond Swayne and Danny Kruger both voted with the government. John Glen MP is not shown as voting. At one stage, the Home Office attempted to suggest they were funded by Iran, a story The Times and the Daily Telegraph fell for, but which they now no longer support.

The Board of Deputies for British Jews are reported to be extremely concerned by the ruling. Lord Sumption interview on the BBC’s PM programme thought the decision vulnerable on appeal. He thought the problem for the government was that the ‘overreach’ of the legislation which meant those holding banners or placards were arrested. He thought PA a ‘thoroughly nasty organisation’.

The government seems particularly determined to clamp down on this organisation and to continue its support for Israel despite the fearful loss of life in Gaza now put at over 72,000. Violence in the West Bank continues apace with estimates of over 1,000 deaths with many more driven from their homes by settler violence.

Elbit Systems, the Israeli arms firm with plants in the UK, has been at the centre of the protests. It manufactures drones which are alleged to be used in Gaza to commit war crimes, a claim Elbit denies.

This is undoubted good news but whether it will survive the Appeal Court remains to be seen. One way or another, by legislating against protest, arresting supporters doing no more than wave placards, and planting fake stories in gullible and compliant media, the government seems determined to support Israel whatever it does and how ever many people it kills or drives from their homes.

Sources: Sky News, Daily Telegraph, The Guardian, CAAT, Jewish Chronicle.

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Latest arms trade news


Latest CAAT newsletter reveals UK role in killing around the world

January 2026

The Winter 2025 edition of the Campaign Against the Arms Trade (CAAT) news discusses the many issues to do with the supply of arms by the UK and others internationally. The government frequently claims to employ ‘robust’ measures to control the trade which has much potential to cause misery around the world, but the facts seem to suggest otherwise: CAAT reveals the top two purchasers of weapons are two nations which have abysmal human rights records. In the period 2020 – 2025, the top country for our weapons was Saudi Arabia at £6.4bn and second was Qatar at £4.1bn. Further down the list, is UAE at £825m.

All these countries do not permit opposition to exist, torture is widely practised, human rights lawyers and activists are routinely arrested, and women are not equal citizens. Foreign workers are treated dreadfully and the gleaming towers which feature in their promotional videos involve the deaths of many hundreds of indentured labourers.

Needless to say, Israel features and the UK governments continued support for arms sales despite the genocide taking place there. Interestingly, they report that Spain has ceased all arms sales and Germany likewise. It had been reported that the German Chancellor has reduced sales but CAAT report that no new exports have been approved.

The claim by the UK government that it has ‘robust’ controls is contradicted by the use of the secretive Open General Export Licences (OGEL). Looking at the list of restricted destinations [accessed 23 January] one finds that Israel is not listed. CAAT say that around half our exports to Israel are by this method.

Revolving door

The scandal of the revolving door continues. This concerns senior individuals in government or the forces taking up roles for arms companies following their retirement. There is a set of rules, which are largely sidestepped, to prevent abuse by people using their contacts to further the interests of the arms companies. These are set to be abolished this year and a new system introduced following a long list of scandals. We await to see how effective the new system will be. CAAT reveals the names of two new entrants to this hall of shame: Sir Simon Bollom, Head of the MOD’s Defence Equipment and Support, and Sir Mark Poffley formerly Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff. They will be joining Elbit Systems the Israeli arms firm which has facilities in the UK. They can use their influence to promote the interests of Elbit Systems. CAAT say there is no suggestion of impropriety.

A lengthy Private Eye report on this corruption, lists many names of politicians and others involved.

RAF flights over Gaza

The RAF continues to overfly GAZA and there are reports that the information gathered is being used to assist the Israeli IDF. The Ministry of Defence maintains that these flights were “solely to locate hostages,” yet the scale, timing and persistence of the flights raises questions as to how much they aided Israel’s military operations despite being conducted under the banner of humanitarian intent. It is not clear that any hostages were identified by the RAF.

The CAAT newsletter, together with previous newsletters and reports, paints a picture of the UK government which is more interested in supporting sales of weapons as part of its growth policy, than in the humanitarian effects these weapons have on the millions who suffer from their use. The high use of open licences means few meaningful controls are in place. They also proudly promote and support the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) each year in London with the innocent sounding claim that it ‘promotes the UK’s defence ethos, agenda and leadership while encouraging opportunity and cooperation with our global allies‘. ​(Source, DSEI 2027 Home page).

The sums involved are large and defence (defense) firms are a key part in some local economies. Controls based on a sense of moral purpose and a proper exercise of end user certificates would curtail their activities and hence employment. It is a tail wagging a somewhat compliant dog.

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Last vigil of 2025


The 108th vigil held in Salisbury

Around 30 attended the latest vigil the need for which has not diminished. Indeed it could be argued that the need is greater than ever since the topic has slid from news programmes and reporting. The Ukraine situation remains in the news as missiles and drones continue to rain down on the population there. There is talk of a peace deal and there are some optimistic noises but realistically it seems very unlikely. President Putin can see that the US simply wants the problem to go away and that Europe is too feeble and divided to represent any kind of a threat. Any ‘peace’ deal will be temporary.

Another supposed peace deal the Americans have brokered is Gaza where again reality is a long way from the rhetoric coming out of Washington.

“It is one of the most devastated places on earth” Alessandro Mrakic, head of the UN Development Programmes Gaza Office

Sky News reports that Israel will not allow heavy lifting equipment into Gaza. This obviously means the process of clearing the mountains of rubble cannot begin.

Flooding has hit the area and with people living in tents and makeshift accommodation, life is grim for Palestinians. Amnesty reports that ‘devastation from torrential rains was ‘utterly preventable’ and was fuelled by Israel’s ongoing restrictions on the entry of critical supplies to repair infrastructure’.

Israel has already seized a substantial part of the territory and almost all the cultivable parts. There is fresh evidence that the ‘Yellow Line’ is being quietly extended with fortifications being established beyond it. Satellite images show that around 53% of Gaza is now controlled by Israel. Palestinians coming near are shot by snipers or quadcopters. 414 have now been killed since the ceasefire. The death toll is put at 70,937 according to the The Peninsular Qatar and 171,192 injured. Foreign journalists are not allowed into Gaza and the BBC has reported that the Knesset has passed a law to close down yet more foreign broadcasters.

The need for the vigils continue. The next will be on 3rd January at 5pm.

Main photo: UN, tile photos, Salisbury Amnesty

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