In a letter given to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, ten bereaved families call on the prime minister not to reinstate Defense Ministry official Amos Gilad, who earlier in the week was dismissed from his senior post as emissary of the cabinet to the Egyptian-mediated talks with Hamas.

Gilad on Wednesday apologized for the controversial statement he made to the daily Maariv, which led to his dismissal, stating he acted inappropriately and regretted doing so.

The families of terror victims point out that Gilad supports deals with Hamas and Hizbullah and the position should remain in the hands of ISA (Israel Security Agency – Shin Bet) Director Yuval Diskin, who does not rubber stamp prisoner release deals and as such, may offer the Egyptians alternatives to the release of terrorists by Israel.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)