In a contribution to the Washington Post, Emanuel Gross,...

In a contribution to the Washington Post, Emanuel Gross, a professor of law at Haifa University since 1992, who served in the Israel Defence Forces for 25 years, first as a soldier and later as a judge at military tribunals, said capital punishment was not a solution to terrorist crimes.
"Is there a punishment that can prevent the kinds of terrorists I used to see in court from following through on their atrocities? What kind of punishment could possibly deter a suicide bomber? Capital punishment will not do the job. I remember a case in which we tried the commander of a terrorist cell that was responsible for murdering many Israelis at a market in Afula. It was a repellent, insane act. But he refused to express his sorrow; he showed only pleasure in his deeds.
"It was the first time my court seriously considered giving the death sentence. But the prosecutor persuaded us not to. The terrorist commander was sentenced instead to life in prison. And I will never forget the victory smile that lit his face as he left the court. It was the self-confident smile of a man who believes himself a hero."