PA (Palestinian Authority) officials are reporting a deal with Israel for the return of the bodies of terrorists from eastern Jerusalem is all but sealed. Israel has held the bodies of ten of the terrorists who were killed while perpetrating an attack in recent months and their families want them back so they can bury them as they wish. One of the conditions being stipulated for their release by Israel is a quiet funeral without the media hype and incitement as is often the case.

Leaks of ongoing negotiations with Israel from the PA signal the families of the terrorists are willing to hold quiet private funerals during the night if that is what it takes. Such funerals would be closed services for families only. If reports are accurate, two of the bodies of eastern Jerusalem terrorists will be released on Tuesday night the eve of 1 Adar I or thereabouts. Israel may use the funerals of these two to determine if the others are to be released.

In the meantime, as the terror attacks continue, some lawmakers, including Avigdor Lieberman, is calling on the government not to return any of the bodies for burial, and to use this policy as a deterrence to future attacks. Such a decision was passed in a previous cabinet but the current administration does not seem interested in adopting this policy.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)