The Israeli Knesset is advancing legislation that would expand the use of the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of lethal attacks. The bill has garnered broad popular support and is expected to pass in upcoming votes.

Critics of the proposed legislation argue it would eliminate key legal safeguards designed to protect due process rights, including the traditional possibility of presidential pardons for those sentenced to death. The measure specifically targets Palestinian perpetrators of deadly attacks.

Separately, the Israeli military has withdrawn an entire battalion from operations in the occupied West Bank following controversial statements made by a soldier. The incident occurred when Israeli forces detained a CNN news crew operating in the area.

During the detention, a soldier told the journalists that Israeli troops were motivated by "revenge" against Palestinians in their West Bank operations. The same soldier also stated that the entire West Bank territory was "for the Jews," according to reports of the encounter.

The military's decision to pull the battalion suggests concern over the soldier's public comments, which appeared to contradict official Israeli policy statements about military operations in the occupied territory. The withdrawal comes amid ongoing tensions in the West Bank and international scrutiny of Israeli military conduct in the region.