Two
Israeli Cases – A Two Dimension Matrix for Generating New Ideas on the Subject
of
Capital
Punishment
I should like to set an overview of two cases
that that were adjudicated in
The first case is that of a man with whom I am
personally acquainted.
Some thirty years ago, a man raped his
mother.
This man killed his mother's rapist.
He was sentenced to life imprisonment. Life
imprisonment, the punishment meted out in cases of premeditated murder in
He was not a hardened criminal and his term in
prison was very difficult for him.
Today, he works with runaways and other youth
at risk, among whom he is very much beloved for his profound understanding.
There is well-nigh nothing of their feelings and experiences that they do not
share with him, as he has experienced far more than most of his young charges
have.
His time in prison wore on him physically,
emotionally and psychically, yet today he is gainfully employed and experiences
deep satisfaction in what he does.
The second case is that of Adolf
Eichmann.
He was captured and flown to
His trial began in
He was indicted on fifteen charges, including
crimes against humanity.
He was convicted on all counts on December 15,
1961.
He was hanged a few minutes after
That was the only case of civil execution in
the history of
See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolf_Eichmann
I ask you to compare these two cases.
I ask you to compare the relative crimes.
I ask you to compare the relative suffering
that was inflicted by the perpetrators.
I ask you to compare the relative punishments
meted out to the guilty and to try to envision their relative suffering.
I ask you to ask yourselves: Was justice served in either, or both, of
these cases?
Doreen Ellen Bell-Dotan,