'Netanyahu is encouraging terror by releasing killers'

by Dan Lavie, Yori Yalon and Israel Hayom Staff

Dozens gather at the Prime Minister's Office to protest against plan to release Palestinian prisoners ahead of peace talks • Naftali Bennett: Anyone on the other side who demands the release of murderers is not worthy of being called a partner.

"We will do whatever it takes." Dozens of demonstrators protesting a planned prisoner release in Jerusalem on Sunday Photo credit: AFP

"The message is that terrorism pays," says opponent of prisoner release
Photo credit: Lior Mizrahi

Dozens of demonstrators gathered at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bureau on Sunday to protest the planned release of 104 Palestinian prisoners ahead of renewed peace talks set to begin this week. 

"The prime minister is encouraging terror by releasing terrorists and killers," Channel 2 news quoted a demonstrator as saying Sunday as dozens carried pictures of loved ones killed in terror attacks. 

Economy and Trade Minister Naftali Bennett spoke with the demonstrators before heading into the weekly cabinet meeting, assuring them that he would vote against the measure. "I will vote against it and so will my friends," he told the crowd. "The release of killers brings a lot of loss and embarrassment to a country. Anyone on the other side who demands the release of murderers and incinerators of women and children is not worthy of being a called a partner." 

The demonstrators asked Bennett to work within the cabinet to prevent the prisoner release. "Don't let them win," Channel 2 quoted one bereaved mother as saying. "We call on you to bring the government down and withdraw from a coalition that would release murderers," another demonstrator demanded. 

"The message is that murderers will eventually be released and that terrorism pays," said Avi Bromberg, the spokesman of the Almagor Terror Victims Association. "This is a dark day for bereaved families. We unequivocally must not capitulate to terror, and we certainly should not release Israeli Arabs who committed murder. We are very concerned about the cabinet decision: 78% of Israel's citizens oppose the release of murderers. There is no reason to release such despicable killers, only to appease [Palestinian Authority President] Mahmoud Abbas. We are in favor of peace and negotiations but we oppose the release of terrorists." 

"The prime minister and the senior diplomatic echelon cannot deny the people's objection to the release of prisoners," Bromberg declared. "We will not lend a hand to the government's capitulation to pressure and repeat the mistakes of the past." 

Yaron Friedman, whose brother Guy Friedman was murdered in 1992 by Israeli Arab terrorists, said, "Our goodwill gestures actually prompt our enemies to make more demands. You don't release prisoners before negotiations even begin." 

Sapir Hazut, the daughter of Daniel Hazut, who was murdered at the Talmei Elazar junction in 1993, said, "Releasing prisoners is a government betraying its citizens. In the case of [IDF soldier Gilad] Schalit, we supported the release of prisoners (in exchange for his freedom) but this is not about a human life."

"I will do whatever it takes," said Oded Karamani, the brother of Ronen Karamani, who was killed in a terror attack in Jerusalem in 1990. "If we have to take harsher steps, I will do everything I can, including a hunger strike. If I have to, I will block it with my body." 

Polls concur: Israelis oppose prisoner release

An Israel Hayom poll issued Friday revealed that 84.9% of Israelis oppose the release of Palestinian prisoners and that 61.6% are in favor of putting any future peace agreement with the Palestinians to a referendum. 

Meanwhile, a poll conducted on behalf of the Almagor bereaved families group suggested that 88% of Israel's Jewish population opposes the release of Palestinian prisoners with "blood on their hands" -- individuals who physically took part in committing murders -- in order to jump-start peace talks. 

A Haaretz-Dialog poll issued Friday revealed that 69% of Israelis believe that the chance that a peace agreement will be achieved this time is very low. The same poll revealed that 58% would like any permanent future deal to be put to a referendum.

Dan Lavie, Yori Yalon and Israel Hayom Staff

Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=10991

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