Lawmakers work on legislation to deal with imprisoning child terrorists

Currently, minors under the age of 14 cannot be sent to prison, though some are sent to a home for troubled youth.

By LAHAV HARKOV
Updated: NOVEMBER 10, 2015 15:15
13-year-old east Jerusalem boy who carried out stabbing attack in Pisgat Ze'ev hospitalized at Hadassah University Medical Center in Jerusalem's Ein Kerem‏ (photo credit: Courtesy)
13-year-old east Jerusalem boy who carried out stabbing attack in Pisgat Ze'ev hospitalized at Hadassah University Medical Center in Jerusalem's Ein Kerem‏
(photo credit: Courtesy)
Lawmakers worked on bills to lower the minimum age for a prison sentence, after Tuesday’s terrorist attack in Pisgat Ze’ev, committed by 12 and 13 year olds.
Currently, minors under the age of 14 cannot be sent to prison, though some are sent to a home for troubled youth.
MK Anat Berko (Likud) submitted her bill on Monday, before the attack happened, and asked that the legislative process for it be accelerated.
The legislation proposes that the minimum age for a prison sentence be waived in cases of minors who commit crimes with a nationalist motive.
According to Berko, a professor of criminology whose expertise is in Palestinian suicide bombings, more young minors are likely to be recruited to commit acts of terrorism.
“The recruiters take advantage of the loophole in the law, knowing that the children won’t be sent to prison,” she stated. “Even the children know that, so it is easier to convince them to go out and attack.”
Berko called to “urgently stop the loophole that could cost human lives.”