In a move that has both kicked up controversy and created frenzied debate in intellectual circles, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas recently reinstated the death penalty in the Palestinian territories, and a week ago, he ordered the first four executions. Three of the men were hanged, while one was killed by a firing squad. Abbas insists the executions will serve as a warning to would-be criminals. His planning minister, Ghassan Chatib, even went so far as to tell DER SPIEGEL that the death penalty is clearly "anchored in Palestinian law." Abbas claims that strengthening the power of the state will help rein in the lawlessness that often overshadows life in the Palestinian territories. Lately, rival bands have grown so fearless in their acts of vengeance that they have taken to firing on each other on open streets, in restaurants and in offices. The government hopes the death penalty will serve as a deterrent to others.

But in Europe, where Brussels provides major funding to the Palestinian Authority and where European Union member states are required to ban capital punishment before joining, criticism of Abbas's move is growing. "The death penalty will not help to curb violence," said Rene van der Linden, head of the parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe. Human rights groups have also contested the move. Especially troubling is the fact that half of those on death row in the Palestinian Authority are there for alleged collaborations with Israelis -- as if that were a worse crime than bombing a crowded market or cafe in Jerusalem. The Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Sheikh Ikrima Sabri, who recently gave his Islamic legal blessing for reimplementing capital punishment, said delays of these executions would merely serve to encourage vigilante acts within the Palestinian authority.

The Palestinian Authority -- in power since 1994 -- has carried out nine death sentences of the 70 Palestinian courts have imposed. In 2002, late leader Yasser Arafat ordered that executions be halted after international criticism became too intense. (2 p.m. CET)

ETA's revised recipe for murder

Speaking of killing, if we tip over to the other side of the map -- namely to Spain -- a different sort of debate is brewing. This one involves the Basque terrorist group ETA and the fury their weekend promise to end "targeted political assassinations" is causing. Of course, at first, the proclamation by the militant group, which has been blamed for 800 deaths in its 40-year history of bloodshed, would seem a cause to celebrate. But not if you look at the fine print. The group is promising only to stop killing politicians -- because of what it calls "political changes" in the country -- but it is not promising to stop killing others. Journalists, academics and businessmen, apparently will remain fair game in the organization's struggle to gain an independent Basque homeland in northern Spain and southwestern France. Javier Elzo, a sociology professor at Deusto University in Bilbao who has been threatened by ETA, summed up the ridiculousness of the offer by succinctly saying, "Does this mean that tomorrow I can't leave the house without a bodyguard because I'm not a politician?"

Indeed, many conservative politicians and victim's groups are horrified by the partial ceasefire offer and are insisting that the government demand the group renounce violence before peace talks can begin. So far, the Socialist government of Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has so far responded coolly to the offer and it remains unclear what stance it will take. Last month, Spanish parliament cleared the way for Zapatero to engage in talks with ETA, provided the group showed a "clear will" to renounce violence. So does a partial end to violence translate to a clear will ETA-style? While even a partial end to ETA-inspired violence is welcome, it seems rather shabby to let a band of killers determine their own rules of negotiation. As such, earlier this month, more than 250,000 people took to the Madrid streets to protest what they viewed as Zapatero's soft spot for ETA. Both right-wing opposition leaders and members of the United Left alliance have also come out against negotiating with ETA under the conditions now being offered. They argue that ETA is currently down on its luck -- crippled by intense police lock-ups and raids -- and that the move is simply a means of buying time while it regroups. They could be right. Then again, if ETA is serious about quashing its violent streak, and if it is taking baby steps towards peace, then this could be the beginning of the resolution of a problem which has long haunted Spain. (12 p.m. CET)

British tea party

How is this for a capitalistic conundrum. The Brits drink over 165 million cups of tea a day but -- until now -- have had no local tea plantations. Every leaf is imported. Long live colonialism! Now, however, an ambitious and serious-minded tea drinker of noble blood (and a lengthy name to match) has taken it upon himself to become the nation's domestic tea pioneer. According to London's Guardian newspaper, the Honourable Evelyn Boscawen, son of Lord Falmouth, (a terribly unfortunate name for a tea entrepreneur) has begun to market tea grown on his family estate in Cornwall. He calls his product "Tregothnan Tea" -- in honor of his estate -- and will be selling it at none other than England's finest -- Fortnum and Massons in central London. The cost? A hefty £30 a pound for the highest quality and £10 for the blended version.