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 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. These trends, intensified by the trauma of October 7th, risk redefining Israel’s identity in ways that challenge both its democratic foundations and its standing in the international community.