Despite statements from Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to the contrary, the government last week returned the body of yet another terrorist for burial by the family, on erev Shabbos 7 Nissan. This was the body of a terrorist killed while trying to murder a soldier in Gaza Etzion.

The body returned was that of Ibrahim Bardiya, a Hamas terrorist who was released from Israel prison. Last week he attacked a soldier over the head at Gush Etzion Junction with an axe near el-Aroub and was shot and killed by soldiers. B’chasdei Hashem the soldier’s helmet saved him.

After the incident in Hebron on Purim, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon announced they would halt the return of the bodies of slain terrorists contrary to the position of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories Major-General Yoav Mordechai and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-General Gadi Eizenkott. The latter two feel the bodies should be returned.

However, in reality the body was returned with an explanation it was a mistake and officials did not understand the change in the directive.

It is added that about 200 terrorists were killed since the start of the wave of violence on erev Rosh Hashanah 5776 but at present, Israel is holding only three bodies of terrorists. The remainder have been returned.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)