Yigal Amir asks to attend son's brit
Israel Prison Service receives official demand from prime minister's murderer to grant him furlough ahead of impending birth of his son. IPS: His request will be discussed like any other request
Yigal Amir, who assassinated former Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in 1995, filed a request with the Israeli Prison Service (IPS) on Sunday demanding a vacation from his term ahead of the impending birth of his son.
The IPS said in response that Amir's request would be considered like any other request. Officials within the service said however that the request was not likely to be approved.
The Knesset has adopted the "Yigal Amir law", according to which the parole board will not be allowed to recommend that a prime minister's murderer be pardoned or that his sentence be commuted.
The bill was initiated by Knesset Member Avshalom Vilan (Meretz). Amir has not been granted a furlough since he was jailed 12 years ago.
"Releasing Yigal Amir for one day is the last stop on the way to a full pardon for this vile murderer," Peace Now Chairman Yariv Oppenheimer said in response to Amir's request.
Oppenheimer added that the IPS must unconditionally deny Amir his request "and put an end to his series of victories against the system."
On Sunday, MK Vilan called on Israel's leading advertising companies to refuse to take part in the campaign calling for Amir's release.
Vilan's call came after the extreme right organization The Committee for Democracy announced it was producing a film staring Amir, as part of a campaign calling for his parole from prison.
The film is to depict Amir's life starting in his childhood and leading up to his assassination of Rabin.
"Common sense and decency demand you refuse to cooperate with this insane notion. I call on you to leave this a fringe campaign and to refuse taking part in it, no matter what monetary offer you receive," wrote Vilan.
Vilan, who initiated the bill assuring that whoever takes a prime minister's life would be sentenced to life imprisonment without parole, also said he "hopes we will all come together as a society to stop this shameful act."
Talking to Ynet, Vilan said he hoped the advertising agencies would be able to look beyond the bottom line this time and "help us all to save face."
