Gilad Shalit
Photo: David Braha
Dorit Beinish
Photo: Gil Yohanan
High Court OKs 2nd phase of Shalit deal
Judges reject petition asking to postpone release of 550 security prisoners, say 'government must honor commitment it made to Hamas'
Supreme Court Justice Dorit Beinish and judges Asher Grunis and Elyakim Rubinstein rejected a petition filed by Shurat HaDin organization and two bereaved families asking to postpone the execution of the second phase of the Shalit deal, which will see the release of 550 security prisoners.
The petitioners claimed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should had the government approve a clear list of criteria for the selection of the prisoners slated for release.
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The petitioners further claimed that the government "does not leave sufficient time for an in-depth procedure."
The prosecution, in its response, claimed that the list does not include prisoners that have blood on their hands, except for two names, and does not include members of Hamas or Islamic Jihad.
More than 400 of the 550 prisoners, the prosecution also noted, have already completed two thirds of their prison sentences.
In their ruling, the judges claimed that the decision on the prisoner swap was made two months ago, and therefore the petition could have been filed earlier.
The judges also noted that despite the families' pain, "which cannot be healed," the government must the commitment it made to Hamas on the Shalit deal.
