Even though the right-wing Bayit Yehudi party is a major component of the coalition government, the current administration has carried out three terrorist prisoner releases, part of the agreement made with the PA (Palestinian Authority) to resume negotiations. Bayit Yehudi preferred to permit the release of terrorists over a building freeze in Yehuda and Shomron. This Bayit Yehudi ministers explained to the public were the options given by the prime minister, and the party opted to move ahead with badly-needed homes and permit the release.

This is where Shas and other opposition parties come in. Shas MKs have gathered signatures of 15 Shas, Labor and The Movement MKs, all calling on Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu not to carry out the fourth terrorist prisoner release but implement a building freeze in Yehuda and Shomron instead.

In their letter to the prime minister they explain they feel a construction freeze is a far better option to the release of murderers. They point out the significance of resuming a diplomatic dialogue with the PA and call on Mr. Netanyahu to ask the United States and the PA to accept a building freeze in Yehuda and Shomron over another prisoner release.

They add that opting not to release additional terrorists will be a great comfort to the right-wing as well as bereaved families, adding continued construction genuinely jeopardizes the future of negotiations with the PA.

Among the MKs who signed are Eitan Cabel, Shelly Yacimovich, Nachman Shai, Moshe Mizrachi, Stav Shapir, Itzik Shmueli, Ariel Margalit, Miki Rosenthal, Michael Burin, Avishai Braverman, David Tzur, Yaakov Margi, and Yitzchak Cohen.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)