JERUSALEM (JTA) – Israel will not return the bodies of Palestinian terrorists to their families under a policy change ordered by its new defense minister.
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Naftali Bennett, who assumed his position earlier this month, announced the decision on Wednesday.
Previously, the release of a body either immediately or at all depended on concerns over violence breaking out at a funeral, to which terror group the dead man belonged or what kind of attack he committed.
Under the new rules, exceptions will be made only in very special circumstances and at the order of the defense minister.
The policy change, one of several that will be presented to the Security Cabinet for its required approval, came at the suggestion of the parents of Israeli soldier Lt. Hadar Goldin, whose body has been held in Gaza by Hamas for five years, according to Israeli reports citing unnamed diplomatic officials. Hamas also holds the remains of another soldier, Sgt. Oron Shaul.
Their bodies were taken by the terrorist group, which controls Gaza, during the 2014 Gaza war. Hamas also is believed to hold two Israeli civilians, Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed.
The Palestinian Authority condemned the move, saying it proves that Israel is a “terrorist entity.”
A no-brainer.
I wonder, why this hasn’t Israel implemented this policy until now?
Ron arad, guy hever, Zachariah Baumel etc.. I wouldn’t exactly call it a no-brainer
Israel should bury terrorists in pig skins and make it public knowledge to the Palestinians that all terrorists will be buried in pig skins. THAT would be a major deterrent to terrorist activity. Their tradition is that if someone had contact with pigs they cannot get their “heavenly rewards of…”
Finally!
i disagree. The bodies should returned so that these subhuman chayos can make huge public funerals, with the supporters of terror massing in the process. These large gatherings of terrorists and their supporters should then be carpet bombed and exterminated. I know the UN won’t look favorably on this, nor would the anti-Israel Dems like the Squad y”sh. This has a better chance of deterring terror than withholding bodies. This suggestion sounds a bit radical, and unlikely to be considered seriously. But we have never witnessed and reasonable reduction in terror by these animals, and this may be worth a shot.
They do it unofficially anyway
THEY SHOULD USE THE ORGANS TO SAVE JEWISH LIFE