A Palestinian prisoner released by Israel on Sunday as part of a swap for a captive soldier said that Hagon Chacham Ovadia Yosef Shlita deserves to die. Salah Hamouri, 26, in 2005 was imprisoned for plotting to assassinate the Chacham Yosef.

Hamouri was one of 550 prisoners freed to complete a deal in which Israel released 1,027 prisoners for soldier Gilad Shalit, who was held captive in the Gaza Strip for over five years.

Hamouri’s lack of repentance seemed an example of how the symbolic swap which initially stirred some optimism, wound up changing little on the ground, where conflict, fueled by months of diplomatic stalemate, persists.

Interviewed at his home in the West Bank, Hamouri cited hateful remarks made by Rabbi Yosef in the past as justification for sticking to his own militant views.

“This man is and will remain a symbol of racism and fanaticism in Israel,” Hamouri said.

(Source: Ynet)