Israel to use death penalty for West Bank Palestinians

In this episode of Late Night Live, host David Ma speaks with Dr. Mustafa Barghouti, Secretary-General of the Palestinian National Initiative, about Israel's newly passed law mandating the death penalty for Palestinians in the West Bank convicted of killing Israelis in military courts. The law, which applies exclusively to Palestinians and not to Israeli settlers who commit violence, has drawn sharp condemnation from Barghouti, who describes it as a consolidation of apartheid and a sign of rising fascism in Israel. He highlights the stark legal double standard: 96% of Palestinians in military courts are convicted, while only 2% of settler violence cases result in conviction. Barghouti argues the law is retroactive, will be used to target political activists, and signals Israel’s rejection of peace and compromise. He also discusses the international response—criticism from Europe, but support from the U.S.—and emphasizes that only meaningful sanctions and boycotts will pressure Israel. The episode underscores deepening systemic injustice and the erosion of democratic norms in Israel’s treatment of Palestinians.