Naftali Bennett: Israel will no longer release the bodies of terrorists - The Jerusalem Post

Israel will no longer release the bodies of terrorists, according to a new policy by Defense Minister Naftali Bennett.This will be the case regardless of to which terrorist organization the person belonged. Bennett instructed the IDF and the defense establishment on Tuesday to completely stop the release of terrorist bodies.The decision came following a number of discussions that he held on the issue of deterrence with senior security officials.Exceptions, according to a statement by the Ministry of Defense, will only be made in extenuating circumstances and at the discretion of the defense minister.The new policy will be introduced shortly in the Security Cabinet, as part of a broader deterrence policy, and will come into effect after the cabinet's approval.According to a political source, the policy change followed a request made by the family of Lt.Hadar Goldin, whose body has been held in the Gaza Strip by Hamas since 2014, to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.In a statement, the family said that they support Bennett’s decision as it “is inconceivable that as Hamas soldiers continue to hold our soldiers we release terrorists, be they dead or alive. ""We are supporting the defense minister's decision. It is inconceivable that while the soldiers are in the hands of Hamas, we will continue to release dead or living terrorists. Freeing terrorists is a prize that Hamas cannot be given while holding onto our soldiers and civilians. ""Prime Minister Netanyahu has pledged to us that a ceasefire will not take place without bringing the boys home and we expect to see that the economic-civilian projects will not be promoted as long as our boys remain in Gaza."

"גורם מדיני" מצנן מעט את ההחלטה:

"מדובר בבקשה לשינוי מדיניות שעלתה ע"י משפחת גולדין בפגישתם עם רה"מ נתניהו בשבוע שעבר. בפגישה הביע רה"מ נכונות לשינוי, והנחה את מערכת הביטחון לבדוק את הנושא". https://t.co/1nlRa1Loe3— יואב זיתון (@yoavzitun) November 27, 2019

While Israel continues to work for long-term ceasefire arrangement with Hamas through mediators like Egypt, the remains of two IDF soldiers killed in the 2014 war, Lt. Hadar Goldin and Sgt. Oron Shaul, remain in the hands of Hamas in the Strip despite years of their families begging both sides to return their sons for burial. Two civilians, Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, being also being held by Hamas.Israel has repeatedly demanded  the return of the bodies and the civilians in exchange for a full quiet in Gaza.  But, Hamas had repeatedly refused the demands, attempting to use all four as bargaining chips in negotiations for prisoner releases and take advantage of the situation for continued psychological warfare against Israel.In January 2018, while the Knesset was debating a bill that would make it harder for the remains of terrorists to be given over for burial, Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan (Likud) said the policy of returning bodies encouraged terrorist attacks.“There is no concept of respect for the dead when it comes to terrorists who killed people,” Erdan said then.

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https://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Naftali-Bennett-Israel-will-no-longer-release-he-bodies-of-terrorists-609180

2019-11-27 09:07:00Z
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