Israel Must Free Jews Jailed For Nationalistic Crimes

Shas Chief Yishai: Israel Must Free Jews Jailed For Nationalistic Crimes

By Haaretz Service
Last update - 21:17 17/02/2009
Courtesy Of Haaretz NewsPaper

As Israel's cabinet prepares to mull a prisoner swap with Hamas in exchange for captive soldier Gilad Shalit, Shas chairman Eli Yishai said on Tuesday that the government must release incarcerated Jewish criminals who were jailed for politically motivated crimes.

"We must release Jewish prisoners who committed crimes that were motivated by nationalism and ideology," Yishai wrote in a letter addressed to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

The Shas leader, who is also minister of industry and trade, said that Jewish prisoners have voiced contrition for their deeds, while Hamas operatives have not. "There is a need to get a sense that these gestures are made towards both sides (Jews and Arabs)," Yishai wrote.
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"The ministers of Shas, which I lead, are of the mind that the release of terrorists does not contribute to Israel's security state and its political state," Yishai wrote. "The balance within Israeli society has been breached. Many citizens are asking themselves why the state does not release Jews who took the law into their own hands due to the security situation."

"In the past, Israeli governments and the president have pardoned prisoners from this category and none of those who were released have returned to their evil ways," the minister wrote. Yishai noted that his position is supported by every sector of Israeli society and all across the entire political spectrum.

Peace Now secretary general Yariv Oppenheimer criticized Yishai's initiative, which he called "distorted and damaging." A wholesale release of prisoners would pave the way for a wave of ideologically motivated killings, Oppenheimer said.