CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IS A POLITICAL RATHER THAN A MORAL ISSUE, AND THE LEAST PROFITABLE WAY OF APPROACHING THE QUESTION OF WHETHER ARAB TERRORISTS CONVICTED IN ISRAEL SHOULD BE EXECUTED IS TO VIEW CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN THE MORAL SENSE. EVEN THOUGH RESEARCH INDICATES THAT CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN GENERAL DOES NOT DETER BECAUSE MURDER IS TYPICALLY A FAMILY CRIME COMMITTED IN AN EXCITED STATE OF MIND, EVIDENCE SHOWS A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN CRIME WHEN PERPETRATORS PERCEIVE NO DANGER. FURTHERMORE, RELIANCE ON EMPIRICAL RESEARCH IS NOT ALWAYS APPROPRIATE IN THE CASE OF MURDERERS WHO ARE POLITICALLY AND IDEOLOGICALLY MOTIVATED. DESPITE ALL LIBERAL EFFORTS TO DISCREDIT THE REVENGE ELEMENT IN PUNISHMENT, IT IS UNJUST THAT VICTIMS PERISH WHILE MURDERERS PROSPER. ISRAEL'S PRESIDENT CAN GRANT CLEMENCY AND COMMUTE OR PARDON. SOMETIMES THE DEATH SENTENCE IS COMMUTED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT BECAUSE OF PUBLIC OPINION OR OTHER REASONS, AND THIS DECISION OF THE GOVERNMENT IS ESSENTIALLY POLITICAL. PROMISES TO CAPTURED ARAB TERRORISTS FOR THEIR SAFETY OF LIFE AND LIMB IS COUNTERPRODUCTIVE BECAUSE IT DOES NOT MAKE THE FEAR OF DEATH SUFFICIENTLY REAL TO THEM. (DEP)