The Supreme Court on Monday, in response to a petition from Chevron residents Itamar Ben-Gavir and Baruch Marzel called upon the state to explain why the almost 200 Fatah terrorists assisted by Israel in fleeing Hamas-controlled Gaza on Saturday were released and not imprisoned.

The state is instructed to respond to the High Court by Tuesday morning, which may appear encouraging, but the court refused to issue a restraining order, so in essence, the response is academic since the terrorists have already been released to PA-controlled Yericho (Jericho).

In another petition concerning the terrorists, filed by ACRI (Association for Civil Rights in Israel), the civil rights organization fought to prevent Israel’s plan to send them back to Gaza, fearing they would get in harm’s way. Israel preempted, and decided to send them to Yericho, seeking to avoid dealing with the ACRI petition, but for one reason or another, no one seems to have entertained locking them up for their terror-related activities.

Even more ironic perhaps is the fact that Israel sent IDF soldiers into Gaza on Saturday under heavy fire to save the Fatah terrorists from the Hamas terrorists, as well as treating the wounded in Israeli hospitals. PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen), who sits in Ramallah, told Israel he does not want them in Ramallah. This is the very same Abu Mazen who earlier in the day called on Defense Minister Ehud Barak to assist his Fatah forces in Gaza, aligned with the Hilles Clan who are among his staunch supporters.

In a showing of PA ‘good-will’, Abu Mazen has done nothing towards assisting Israel in efforts to obtain the release of Gilad Shalit. Nevertheless, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Ehud Barak remain fervent in their commitment to ongoing peace negotiations with Abu Mazen, whom they view as a “moderate”.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)