Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu continues to portray himself as “Mr. Security”, a hard-liner, but in fact, his actions are not in line with his promises. During several recent policy statements in which he exhibited a hard-hand policy in response to Arab terror attacks, PM Netanyahu promised the bodies of slain terrorists would not be handed back to families for burial. However, despite the grandiose statements, his administration is doing just that, returning the bodies of terrorists for heroes’ burial.

The bodies of two terrorists were returned to their respective families during the night. They terrorists were involved in stabbing attacks against security forces.

Muataz Awsat, 16, was killed after attempting to stab a border policeman in the Armon HaNatziv neighborhood of the capital in October 2015. The body of the Jerusalem terrorist was returned to the family, residents of Jabil Mukhaber.

The body of 50-year-old Fadwa Abu Tir of Umm Taba (Jerusalem) was also returned to her family. In march 2016 she too tried stabbing a border police in Jerusalem’s Old City but she was shot dead before she could harm them.

In line with the agreement made for their return, the families during the night (Monday to Tuesday) of 9 Iyar buried their loved ones in a quiet ceremony. Minister of Public Security Gilad Erdan has stated this would be the precondition for the release of any body, that the funeral is quiet and without the fanfare given to slain terrorists in major PA (Palestinian Authority) burials.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)