A day after a number of bereaved mothers called on Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to act towards obtaining the release of Gilad Shalit, as was reported by YWN-Israel, another group of bereaved parents called on Netanyahu to ignore their plea, urging him not to approve the release of terrorists with blood on their hands in a deal for Shalit’s release.

Tzur’s son Assaf was murdered in a bus bombing attack in Haifa in 2003.

Representing this group of bereaved parents was Yossi Tzur, who accused the others of “riding on the backs of celebrities”, explaining some of the children of the representatives were not murdered by terrorists to promote their case. This was a clear reference to Mrs. Rona Ramon, who husband was killed in the NASA Columbia shuttle disaster and son Lt. Assaf was killed a number of months ago in an air force operational mishap.

Tzur and his supports questioned the terminology used by the mothers, who wrote “stop gambling with Gilad’s life”, asking why it is permitted to gamble with the lives of others, which is exactly what occurs is hundreds of terrorists are released from Israeli prisons.

These 27 families insist, as has been seen in the past, the release of murders will carry a price tag, additional terror attacks and additional loss of life. Addressing the prime minister, they also address the Entebbe rescue mission of 1976, when the prime minister’s brother Yoni was killed in the operation, once again, when the government decided not to give into terrorists. They ask that the same approach be adopted by the current administration.

Mr. Tzur asked the prime minister that if he decides to meet with representatives of the first group as they request, he asks that he and his group be permitted to meet as well.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)