Who authorized list of bodies?
Lack of coordination between political, military levels exposed in affair surrounding deal to transfer terrorists' bodies to Palestinian Authority. Matter wasn't discussed in any forum, cabinet minister claims
Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Tuesday addressed the decision to freeze the transfer of terrorists' bodies to the Palestinian Authority.
"Soon there won't be anything to transfer. On the one hand, there is room to consider transferring the bodies rather than keeping them in a temporary cemetery, but on the other there is room to check who it is we're handing over, and to consider not transferring some."
He explained that he froze the matter "in order to check we're not handing over bodies that shouldn't be transferred both out of Shalit-related considerations and others."
"We are looking into the issue and how the decision was made. I suggest we don't over-dramatize this."
The lack of coordination surrounding the decision to has become increasingly evident. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Barak did not bring the matter up for discussion at the Political-Security cabinet, Ynet learned Tuesday.
"The ministers had no idea what bodies were referenced when the matter became public," one cabinet minister told Ynet.
"The issue of the bodies was not discussed in any forum, no professional element presented the cabinet with a list of names," he said.
"Even if this gesture proves to be effective, dozens of bodies cannot be handed over without a discussion being held on the matter."
On Monday, the Palestinian Civil Affairs Minister Hussein al-Sheikh announced that Israel will transfer 84 bodies of terrorists to the PA. Several hours later the IDF said that Netanyahu had okayed the gesture some months ago and confirmed the number of bodies to be handed over. By evening time, Minister Barak announced he was freezing the move so as not to interefe with efforts to free captive soldier Gilad Shalit.
Bodies returned as part of 2008 deal with Hezbollah (Photo: Reuters)
State officials said that Israel was approached by the PA several months ago with a request to transfer the bodies. Netanyahu and Barak approved the concept and the IDF was tasked with handling the matter.
Officials in Jerusalem said that the prime minister did not see a list of names before Monday and that the IDF declared the Palestinian list published Monday false. It remains unclear who authorized the names. Meanwhile, the affair raises questions as to the level of coordination between the IDF and the government.
Cemetery for terrorists (Photo: Avihu Shapira)
Al-Sheikh claimed Tuesday that he has not been notified on the cancellation of the deal. "Israel told me it will transfer the bodies to the PA within a matter of days," he said and accused Barak of succumbing to internal pressures.
"This doesn't surprise us as the Israeli government always goes back on agreements."
Cabinet Minister Eli Yishai criticized the decision to transfer the bodies. "This is unthinkable as long as Gilad Shalit fails to get a single gesture. We should preserve anything which can shorten Gilad's captivity even by one minute."
Elior Levy, Ynet's Palestinian affairs correspondent, contributed to this report
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