A protest will be held tonight, Sunday 9 Cheshvan, outside the President’s Residence, to call on President Shimon Peres to pardon Jewish prisoners as well. This refers to Jews serving prison sentences for striking out at Arabs, in some cases murdering them.
Bereaved family members, those whose loved ones were killed by Arab terrorists, will be among the participants in the protest. They feel that in light of Israel’s release of 1,027 terrorists in the Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange deal, clemency should be granted for Jewish prisoners as well.
A similar protest was held in front of the home of Justice Minister Prof. Yaakov Ne’eman and other protests are planned.
In another incident, which occurred in the corridors of the Knesset last week, Elinor Butvika burst into the Prime Minister’s entourage as he left his office. Butvika, the wife of Shachar Butvika, a border policeman convicted of killing an Arab in Hebron in response to the murder of his friends on Worshipers’ Way in Hebron, pleaded with the prime minister to release her husband.
“You released a thousand terrorists. Release my husband also,” cried out Butvika, who was then shoved aside by the Prime Minister’s bodyguards. Butvika was charged with pushing an 18 year old Arab out of his moving jeep. The Arab’s head hit a rock and he subsequently died. The death was unintentional, and Butvika expressed remorse.
This evening, as stated above, the prisoners’ families will demonstrate opposite the President’s residence. The protest will begin at 20:00. The families of the prisoners, families of terror victims, friends from the platoon of the imprisoned border policemen and additional activists are expected to participate.
Attached is a short video [in Hebrew] of Prisoner of Zion Yosef Mendelovitch, who sat in a Russian prison, giving a speech at a protest that took place last week opposite the home of Justice Minister Ne’eman.
Click HERE to watch this video from a mobile device.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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3 Responses
Given that the Peres is an old-school socialist, and the Jewish political prisoners are generally nationalists, that seems a stretch. For his perspective, they are serious enemies of the state.
People who kill random arabs should prob be labeled as criminals- unless you go with the motion that all arabs want jews dead and are an existential threat against jews. If thats the case i don’t see why he should release criminals.
Let these Jewish individuals, most are imprisoned for pikuach nefesh issues FREE and home with their families. There is no chances of repeat terrorism on their parts.
Have a heart, you will need them as reserve soldiers as Yehuda, Shomron and Gaza get heated up.