New Israel law: Throwing stones could bring 20 years in prison

JERUSALEM, July 22 (UPI) -- The passage of a law in Israel's parliament, imposing up to 20-year prison sentences on those convicted of stone-throwing, was criticized by Palestinians.

The law, passed in the Knesset by a 69-to-17 vote late Monday, was drafted after an outbreak of stone-throwing conflicts in East Jerusalem in 2014, following the kidnapping and killing of an Arab youth by Jewish vigilantes motivated by revenge over the death of an Israeli youth.

The new law calls for a maximum 20-year sentence if proof is established the offender meant to inflict harm. Sentences of up to 10 years can also be given for throwing stones at civilian vehicles, without a legal burden of proving attempted harm.

The United Arab List of 13 Arab members of the Knesset called the law "collective punishment" meant "to oppress the Palestinian's civilian and popular struggle."

Israeli Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked approved of the law, saying, "For years, terrorists avoided punishment and responsibility. Tolerance toward terrorists ends today. A stone thrower is a terrorist, and only an appropriate punishment can be deterrent, punitive and just."

The law will only apply in Israel and in heavily-Arab East Jerusalem. Israeli military courts deal with cases in the West Bank.

Earlier in July in Ramallah, West Bank, a Palestinian youth was shot and killed by a senior Israeli military officer after a stone was thrown at the officer's military vehicle.