Speaking to Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) on Saturday, Israeli Nobel Chemistry Prize laureate Prof. Ada Yonath stated she believes terrorists held by Israel should be released. “We need to think of ways to ensure that people would not be motivated to kill and get killed,” she explained, expressing her view, that the those not classified as criminals, namely terrorists, should be set released by Israel, regardless if they have blood on their hands or not.

Prof. Yonath was referring to captive IDF soldier Gilad Shalit when making her comments, stressing that people imprisoned without hope are not going to change and this reality needs to be reversed. Admitting “I may be dreaming” she went on to explain she does not believe the number of terrorists who are imprisoned will be the determining factor in reducing terror, adding that even terrorists who must be punished, we must find alternative methods other than imprisoning them here. “Leaving people with a feeling of despair is not going to bring a halt to terrorism” stated the professor, who feels Israel must halt the policy of imprisoning terrorists.

Speaking “as a mother, a woman and professor”, she added she does not understand why Gilad Shalit is being held over three years, expressing her grief knowing the young soldier has been in captivity for over three years. Yonath stated she believes the treatment of terrorists must be reevaluated; adding if no terrorists are imprisoned in Israel there will not be a motivation to abduct additional soldiers towards obtaining their release.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)