The Political-Security Cabinet on Monday morning 1 Rosh Chodesh Teves decided to accept the recommendation of Attorney General Dr. Avichai Mandelblit regarding the High Court of Justice ruling on the return of terrorists’ bodies to their families for burial.

The cabinet has decided to freeze the situation as it was prior to the court’s ruling, that is to say the government will not return the bodies of slain terrorists for burial as the court ruled they must until another hearing and subsequent ruling is issued on the matter. The cabinet also decided that until the court rules, it will not advance legislation to circumvent the first ruling, that is to permit Israel to hold onto the bodies of dead terrorists as announced would occur.

One of the first responses were heard from Drs. Simcha and Leah Goldin, whose son Hadar Lt. HY”D and Sgt. Shaul Oren HY”D are being held by Hamas after being killed in Gaza fighting during Operation Protective Edge in 2014. They were angered over the announcement that no legislation is going to be advanced at this time, pending another High Court hearing.

“Prime Minister Netanyahu and the cabinet chose to surrender to Hamas again. The decision not to promote a law allowing the possession of terrorists’ bodies and putting pressure on Hamas is a miserable decision that sends the enemy a message of weakness. We call on Netanyahu and cabinet ministers to read their announcements from last Thursday and not to abandon the legislative process. To bring Hadar and Oren home, the Israeli leadership must show courage and determination.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)