What’s New:

An Israeli Knesset member has spearheaded a controversial law that defines sexual assault motivated by nationalism as an act of terrorism. This comes in the wake of a horrific incident where Jewish women were targeted by Hamas terrorists.

Why It Matters:

The law highlights an often-overlooked dimension of terrorism that includes sexual violence as a tactic of war and humiliation. By recognizing these acts as terrorism, Israel is taking a firm stance on a sensitive and pressing issue.

Background:

The October 7 massacre at a music festival brought to light the grim reality of sexual violence used as a weapon in nationalist conflicts. Israeli Knesset member Yulia Malinovsky pushed through legislation to categorize such acts as terrorism, aiming to address and combat all forms of terror against the Israeli people.

The Law’s Scope:

Crucially, the law is non-discriminatory, applying to any perpetrator, Arab or Jewish, who commits a sexual assault on nationalistic grounds. While the law has faced accusations of racism and denialism from its critics, it stands on international precedents that recognize sexual violence in conflict zones as war crimes.

International Response:

Despite the UN Security Council’s recognition of conflict-related sexual violence as a war crime, there has been a notable lack of international attention to the specific phenomenon of sexual terrorism against Jewish women by Hamas terrorists. The Israeli law seeks to bring awareness and action to this issue.

The Larger Picture:

Malinovsky’s advocacy reflects a broader need to educate the world on the realities of modern terrorism, which can manifest in diverse and insidious ways. The acknowledgment of sexual violence as a form of terrorism is a step toward a more comprehensive approach to combating terror in all its forms.

This story was first published on jpost.com.