The weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday, 21 Menachem Av 5773 began 90 minutes late, at 11:30. The discussion surrounding the vote to release 104 convicted terrorists lasted for five-and-a-half hours. At the conclusion of the meeting, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu emerged victorious, albeit with a heavy heart.
As the meeting took place, members of the Likud Central Committee along with Yesha activists tried to persuade the ministers. Simultaneously, a protest including bereaved family members was being held outside the Prime Minister’s Office, but the lobbying and protest fell on deaf ears and heavy hearts as a majority of the ministers approved the terrorist release.
The prime minister got down to business using the ‘Yoni card’ reminding ministers how he too is a bereaved brother as Yoni Netanyahu HY”D fell in the rescue of Israeli hostages in Entebbe in the summer of 1976. He was not interested in hearing Bayit Yehudi leader Naftali Bennett’s mantra against the release of terrorists, telling his cabinet that he is in agreement, but there is a bigger picture.
Mr. Netanyahu explained that at times, one must make a decision that is very unpopular, and this is what leadership is about, and this is such a case. The prime minister fell short of stating Israeli Arabs would be among the 104 being set free for he realized he may not have a majority for such a move. He therefore told ministers the Israeli Arab issue will be pushed off to the fourth and final group released and the cabinet would discuss the matter prior to such an action.
Deputy Foreign Minister Ze’ev Elkin expressed adamant opposition to the release of prisoners while Deputy Defense Minister Danny Danon warned the released prisoners will become the new idols for children attending PA summer camps. He added releasing terrorist is tantamount to rewarding terrorism in addition to concerns by doing so; Israel weakens its deterrence against such acts.
Science Minister (Yesh Atid) Yaakov Peri, a former ISA (Israel Security Agency – Shin Bet) director said that while the release of terrorists is a hard decision, heart- wrenching, and while it is inconceivable for bereaved families it is the correct move towards resuming diplomatic talks with the PA.
Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon mimicked the adjectives used by other ministers supporting the release, adding he will however vote against release of Israeli Arab terrorists. He explained that Abu Mazen is not their representative as they are Israeli citizens and therefore, the release deal is not relevant to them.
Speaking to Israel Radio’s Reshet Bet on Monday, 29 Menachem Av 5773, Kadima leader Shaul Mofaz, a former IDF chief of staff and defense minister stated that if he were a cabinet member, he would have opted for a construction freeze in Yehuda and Shomron instead of a prisoner release. Bayit Yehudi however was unwilling to entertain this alternative.
Mofaz questions why the PA must receive anything in advance while giving nothing, lamenting the heavy price being paid by Israel while receiving absolutely nothing in return.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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One Response
this is just completely stupid.
if I were a terrorist from the PA I would carry out an attack. you get a 5 star prison, you get visits from your family, and you get let out way before the end of your sentence.
why not?