As is usually the case, the families of victims of terrorism and the survivors of the heinous attacks have filed a petition with the nation’s Supreme Court in the hope of preventing the government from moving ahead with the Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange deal. If the deal moves ahead, Gilad Shalit will be set free later in the week in exchange for Israel’s releasing 1,027 terrorists.

While the names of the terrorists are released in advance to permit a 48-hour window to file petitions such as the one mentioned above, in the past, the High Court has never intervened, but prefers to leave the government to make such decisions despite the pain and anguish to the thousands of bereaved families.

The Almagor terror victims’ organization has been fighting against the deal, and is at the forefront of efforts to stop the release of the heinous terrorists.

The names of the 1,027 slated for released were given to President Shimon Peres on motzei Shabbos, for under Israeli law, the president must pardon each and every one of them to permit their release in the deal.

The president is not expected to review each case as he normally would, but will rely on the fact the deal is endorsed by the cabinet and as such, he will sign the pardons to permit the prisoner exchange to move forward.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)