Subject: Call from [Your Constituency]: Act now: Oppose Israel’s new death penalty law for Palestinians

Dear Deputy, 

I am writing as your constituent of [Name of Constituency] to urge you to take urgent action to reverse Israel’s newly adopted death penalty law and take the concrete actions listed below to hold the Israeli government accountable for its ongoing violations against Palestinians. 

On 30 March 2026, the Israeli Knesset passed a draconian law, making execution by hanging the mandatory sentence for Palestinians convicted in military courts of killing Israelis. The law is explicitly worded to apply only to Palestinians and effectively excludes Jewish Israelis, further entrenching an apartheid system that discriminates on the basis of nationality and identity. 

As noted by Israeli human rights organisation B’Tselem “The death penalty will be determined in military courts where only Palestinians are tried. These courts have an approximately 96% conviction rate, based largely on “confessions” extracted under duress and torture during interrogations.” 

As you know, the EU–Israel Association Agreement requires respect for human rights and democratic principles as an essential element of the agreement. This clause obliges the EU to respond when these principles are gravely violated. It is therefore imperative that Ireland call on the EU to immediately suspend the EU–Israel Association Agreement, pending a full review and until Israel complies with its human rights obligations, international humanitarian law, and the provisional orders of the International Court of Justice. 

Ireland has consistently taken courageous positions on international law, and I urge you to continue this leadership by supporting the following actions: 

1. Press the Israeli government to repeal the recent amendments expanding its use of the death penalty on Palestinians.  

2. Call on the EU to suspend the EU–Israel Association Agreement, invoking the essential‑elements clause until Israel complies fully with international human rights and humanitarian law. 

3. Enact the Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025 banning trade with both goods and services from illegal settlements.  

4. Provide political and financial support to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to update and publish the UN database of business enterprises involved in certain activities relating to Israeli settlements in the OPT. Urge that the scope of the UN Database is broadened to include companies involved in and enabling the occupation. 

I look forward to your response and hearing what actions you will take on this matter.  

I would be grateful if you could raise these concerns directly with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and in the Dáil.

Yours sincerely, 

[Your name]

[Your home address]