MK Lieberman. "This is a wrong step". (Photo: Zehavit Shasha)
Photo: Zehavit Shasha
Counter to previous statements, Israel returns terrorists' bodies
Israel transferred the bodies of five terrorists from the Hebron area to the Palestinians on Friday, as well as the body of the terrorist who pretended to be a candy salesman whose family lives in the northern West Bank.
Israel transferred the bodies of several terrorists to their families on Friday, in light of a previous government decision, which stated that terrorist bodies would not be returned to their families. The bodies include five terrorists from Hebron, as well as 16-year-old Muhammad Zakarnah, who pretended to be a candy salesman and attempted to stab guards at a checkpoint near Jenin.
MK Avigdor Lieberman, head of the Yisrael Beytenu party, attacked the government’s decision, saying, “This is a wrong step, meant to appease the terrorists, and it is akin to paying a ransom to those who threaten Israel. It is a shameful surrender to the Palestinians’ threats, one that will not only fail to bring about quiet, but will bring about an increase in terrorism.”
Palestinians celebrate the arrival of the bodies
A Palestinian source in Hebron told ynet that the move is probably meant to bring about quiet in Hebron after a wave of daily terror attacks, in which over 20 Hebron-area terrorists took part. He estimated that the other bodies will only be returned if the move has the desired effect. Celebrations were held upon the bodies arrival.
Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan issued a statement in mid-October, saying, “For whom it may concern: The cabinet approved Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan’s proposal - to not return the bodies of terrorists who are killed during attempted attacks – last night. In addition, Minister Erdan’s proposal to bury these terrorists in IDF-owned cemeteries in the country’s fringes, where terrorists were once buried, will be considered.”
Minister Gilad Erdan. Proposed the no-return policy. (Photo: Amit Shabi)
The statement was accompanied by a quote from Erdan which stated, “The terrorist’s family turns his funeral into a pro-terror, incitement-to-murder, demonstration and we must not allow it. We must do everything so that a terrorist won’t receive respect and ceremonies after he has perpetrated an attack.”
The body of a terrorist was however, returned on October 17 as well, and buried in a large ceremony. A security official stated that the incident was due to a one-time internal misunderstanding in Israel.
