The cabinet during the night voted to accept the prisoner exchange deal presented by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu by a 26-3 vote, with Ministers Lieberman, Ya’alon and Landau voting against the costly deal. They simply felt the state cannot permit the release of over 1,000 convicted terrorists to save the life a single soldier, painful as such a may be.
Government officials boast that Israel remained firm, and as a result, some of the most heinous terrorists who appeared on Hamas’ list will remain behind lock and key, not included in the deal, despite foreign media reports on Tuesday to the contrarys.
ISA (Israel Security Agency – Shin Bet) Director Yoram Cohen gave his support for the deal, a turnaround from his predecessor, Avi Dichter, who during his tenure opposed the release of convicted terrorists.
Officials add that the “five leading Hamas figures” will remain in prison, including Marwan Barghouti (head of Fatah Tanzim faction), Ahmed Sa’adat (head of PFLP), Abdullah Barghouti, Abbas a-Said, and Ibrahim Hammed. They will remain behind bars.
Marwan Barghouti, who is serving five life sentences, was found guilty for his part in the murders of five Israelis in addition to his supervisory role as the Tanzim military wing leader.
Ahmad Sa’adat, the director of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine is serving a 30-year sentence for planning the assassination of Minister of Tourism Rechavam Ze’evi HY”D on October 17, 2001. The 75-year-old minister was shot from point blank range, twice in the head in Jerusalem’s Hyatt Hotel.
Abdullah Barghouti, a senior Hamas military wing official, was found guilty for his role in the murder of 66 Israelis. He was sentenced to 67 life sentences. Attacks attributed to him include the Park Hotel, on Seder night in 2002, an attack that left 30 dead and about 160 wounded.
Ibrahim Hammed is responsible for the deaths of 90 Israelis and Abbas a-Said is responsible for the deaths of 35 Israelis.
In the first stage of the release, 450 terrorists will be set free, as early as next week, during Sukkos.
Simultaneously, Shalit will be moved from Gaza to Egypt. 203 ‘senior terrorists’, including residents of PA (Palestinian Authority) autonomous areas throughout Yehuda and Shomron will be exiled upon their release. 163 terrorists will be exiled to Gaza, and 40 to another country. An additional 110 terrorists will be permitted to return home, either to a PA autonomous area of to eastern Yerushalayim and 131 others to Gaza. Six of the terrorists being released are Israeli Arab citizens.
The deal was signed last Thursday in Cairo through the efforts of the German mediator. David Medan, the government’s representative to the negotiations signed for Israel. In recent days, two meetings were held of the ministerial forum of eight to review and approve the deal.
On erev Yom Kippur, Defense Minister Ehud Barak visited HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef. It is believed that Barak briefed the Rav on the proposed prisoner release plan. Barak asked the Gadol HaDor to instruct Shas ministers to vote in favor of the plan, which they did.
The folks manning the Gilad Shalit protest tent outside the Prime Minister’s residence at Paris Square have closed up shop, explaining they are now all going home, waiting for Gilad’s return to his home.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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One Response
What does this mean: “Officials add that the “five leading Hamas figures” will remain in prison, including Marwan Barghouti (head of Fatah Tanzim faction), Ahmed Sa’adat (head of PFLP), Abdullah Barghouti, Abbas a-Said, and Ibrahim Hammed. They will remain behind bars.”
In Israel or somewhere else? And if it’s elsewhere – daven for their continued incarceration by Birchas Kohanim – where we daven for all CHALOMOS!