Israel toughens law against Palestinian stone-throwers

The Israeli parliament approved late Monday night a new law to increase the punishment for hurling stones, in an attempt to halt a wave of violent resistance in the Palestinian West Bank and East Jerusalem.

The law, sponsored by Israel's new right-wing government, was passed by 69-17 vote after a stormy debate in the Knesset (parliament) plenum.

Under the new measure, stone-throwers could be sentenced to 10 years in jail, without having to prove harmful intent in their actions.

Previously, in order to convict stone throwers, the prosecution was required to prove that they intended to inflict harm in their actions.

The maximum penalty was set on 20 years' imprisonment, but only if a harmful intent was proved.

"A stone thrower is a terrorist," Minister of Justice Ayelet Shaked, from the hard-right Jewish Home faction, wrote in her facebook account after the bill was approved.

Jamal Zahalka, Knesset member with the Arab-Jewish Joint List faction, denounced the legislation, condemning it as "unjust."

More than 1,000 Palestinians, most of them youths, were indicted for hurling stones over the past year, according to figures by Israel's Ministry of Justice.

It rarely causes serious injuries, although Israeli security forces often report damages to military and police vehicles.

Used especially by youths, stones hurling became a popular way of struggle against the Israeli control of the Palestinian territories during the "First Intifada" in the 1980s.

Lately, Israel saw a new wave of stone hurling attacks amidst a wave of violence between Palestinians and Israelis in the wake of the collapse of the peace talks in April 2014.

Israel occupied the West Bank and annexed East Jerusalem during the 1967 Mideast War and has controlled it ever since.