Yoel Schwartz, the son of Ahuva Liba Schwartz, H’yd, who was murdered in the brutal Egged No. 2 bus bombing in 2003, wrote about the fact that those who planned the attack which killed his mother along with 23 others, including 7 children, are slated to be released in the hostage deal.
Abdullah Sharbati, Majdi Zaatari, and Samer al-Atrash, members of a cell that planned the attack on the No. 2 line as well the bombing of Egged Bus No. 6 in French Hill in 2003, which killed 7 Israelis and injured 20, are slated to be released in the first phase of the deal in exchange for 33 hostages.
Schwartz wrote: “Twenty years have passed since my mother was murdered in the brutal attack on Line 2 in Jerusalem. The pain and loss accompany me every day. Today I find myself dealing with an additional pain: the knowledge that my mother’s murderers, the planners of the deadly attack, are about to be released as part of the hostage deal.”
“I fully understand the longing and struggle of the families of the hostages to see their loved ones return home safely. It is a fundamental human feeling that deeply moves me.”
“Experience with deals like the Shalit deal shows that these terrorists did not abandon the path of terror. Many of them returned to carry out attacks and kill innocent people. They are not just released prisoners; they are active terrorists.”
“I daven for the safe return of the hostages but I want to remind us all of the heavy price that the release of such terrorists may exact from our society in the future.”
“But alongside that, I must voice my difficult feelings: the release of such terrorists, with blood on their hands, is not only a betrayal of the memory of their victims – but also a real and tangible risk.”
Schwartz wrote a moving tribute to his mother in 2020.
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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8 Responses
I feel for all survivors of terror attacks… especially when they feel betrayed by the Gov’t.. it is so painful! My suggestion to make it bearable: return the terrorists in body bags
Oct 7 was very well planned and they are achieving their goal, having 3000 terrorists FREED!
Time to recognize what a catastrophe the state of Israel is for Am Yisroel
I think you Yoel Schwartz should reach out to איתמר ben Gvir and & the 2 of you would make a very well coordinated pact together to espouse your extremely legitimate views, and to advance future Israeli government agendas.
I have no-doubt that איתמר ben Gvir would be most amenable to taking you Yoel under his wings, and working with you.
It is indeed very painful to comprehend the rationale behind the deals made with terrorists: it’s as though we negotiate with criminals. In fact here it’s even worse in that they emphatically say they’re going to do it again. I can’t wrap my brain around it. Who offers terrorists deals! You don’t deal with them: you nuke em!
My heart goes out to Yoel Scheartz and to the many who’s loved ones were brutally murdered by these arch terrorists that are going to be released in the coming weeks. At the same time one must understand the enormous pressure that the prime minister and many in the government have been under both domestically and internationally to do something to help free the hostages. The country has been torn apart not just by the ever growing death toll inflicted on the IDF soldiers but also by the deminishing chances that the hostages will make it out alive.. For that reason many poskim in EY voiced their opinion that a deal should be made.
My real frustration is with President- Elect Trump.. why couldn’t Pres. Trump put the same pressure just on Hamas to release the hostages without a deal as generous as the one they got? Why couldn’t Trump
put the pressure squarely on Hamas (and by association on Iran) with an ultimatum ‘free those hostages before I get into office or else!!’
@guttebybby
…Wrapped in pig skins!
@guttebubby
…Wrapped in pig skins!
It’s time to face some facts. The IDF is incapable of winning any wars. It is a loser army made up of losers. Israel took this deal because the government knows that its army is weak and impotent. When you have no leverage you take the best deal you can. This is the best the IDF can do.