Knesset passes law toughening penalties for stone throwers

Israel’s parliament has passed a law toughening penalties against Palestinian rock throwers.

The law comes as Israel is struggling to contain a wave of Palestinian attacks, mainly stabbings, and violent clashes at demonstrations in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.

It was first introduced months ago, before the current violence began.

The law places a minimum sentence of three years on offenders and strips rock throwers of their social security benefits, a punishment that applies to Palestinians in east Jerusalem who have Israeli residency rights.

The parents of minors convicted of rock throwing could also have their social security benefits annulled during the period of the offender’s sentence.

Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, announced on its website on Tuesday that the law passed in a final reading.