The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, has expressed his “deep concern” after the adoption, yesterday, by the Knesset, of a law expanding the use of the death penalty in Israel. The adoption of the law, a notice from the CoE explains, “comes despite repeated calls to the Israeli authorities, notably by the Council of Europe, to renounce it”. The entry into force of this law “would mark a further distancing of Israel from the framework of values with which it has historically chosen to associate itself. Israel abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1954 and has carried out no executions since 1962. The adoption of this law, which expands the application of the death penalty in the country, represents a serious regression”. “The death penalty – Berset goes on – is a legal anachronism incompatible with contemporary human-rights standards. Moreover, any application of the death penalty that could be characterised as discriminatory is unacceptable in a state governed by the rule of law”. The Council of Europe opposes the death penalty “in all places and under all circumstances”, because “it is incompatible with fundamental rights and with respect for human dignity”. Lastly: “The Knesset has held observer status with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe since 1957. […] In this context, the Council of Europe will closely monitor upcoming developments regarding this law”.