Israel passes bill to halt release of Palestinian prisoners

Israel's Ministerial Committee for Legislation approved on Sunday a bill aimed at impeding the Israeli government from releasing Palestinian prisoners who were jailed for committing suicide attacks as part of negotiations.

The bill, which still needs to be approved by the Knesset ( parliament), was initiated by Ayelet Shakked from the hawkish Bayit Yehudi faction.

The proposed legislation allows the courts to use the heavy sentence of life without parole and preventing Israel's president from pardoning such prisoners as part of future diplomatic overture or prisoner swaps.

An appendix to the law says its intention is to block "an absurd situation in which terrorists, who committed murder as part of their struggle against Israel, are released a long time before the end of their sentence."

Welcoming the new bill, Naftali Bennett, Economy Minister and leader of the Bayit Yehudi faction, said in a statement that " Israel turned a new leaf today regarding the war on terror and its moral obligation to bereaved families."

"Murderers need to die in prison and not celebrate at home," he added.

He vowed to finish the legislation process of the law "quickly and without delay in the upcoming Knesset session."

• Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, who was Israel's chief negotiator in the peace talks with the Palestinians, opposed the bill, saying it will limit the government's room for maneuver in diplomatic negotiations.

The bill comes less than a month after Israel has suspended the resumed peace talks with the Palestinian over the Hamas and Fatah unity agreement.

The blowup came after Israel refused to release a third group of Palestinian prisoners as decided upon in July.

In the past, Israel has released Palestinian prisoners, including convicted murderers, in different occasions. However, each release ignites harsh public reactions and vocal objection by bereaved families who lost their loved ones in suicide attacks.
[globaltimes.cn]
12/5/14