Always, without fail, freeing terrorists comes at an exceedingly heavier cost with countless more victims - by Nadav Shragai

...Every Israeli government has sinned by releasing terrorists who returned to murderous activities. The High Court of Justice's hands are also unclean because it has authorized these deals and gestures. Beyond the terrible immorality involved in any release of terrorists – beyond the humiliation, scorn for the law and court's rulings – we are faced with the bitter truth: Letting terrorists free perhaps brings home one or a handful of soldiers, and sometimes their bodies. They are extremely dear to our hearts. But...

Nadav Shragai..
Israel Hayom..
11 January '18..
Link: http://www.israelhayom.com/opinions/when-will-we-learn/

At the time of this writing, it was still unclear whether terrorists released within the framework of the Gilad Schalit prisoner exchange were involved, directly or indirectly, in the shooting murder of Rabbi Shevach Raziel on Tuesday, but it will not be surprising whatsoever if this is revealed to be the case. In recent years in general, and over the past few months in particular, the Shin Bet security agency has thwarted dozens of terrorist attacks directed by a cohort of those released terrorists, who were exiled to Gaza and "seized" the Hamas leadership. Hamas in Gaza is trying, almost openly, to orchestrate terrorist attacks across Judea and Samaria.

Time and again throughout the years Israel has suffered the effects of exchange deals and goodwill gestures involving the release of Palestinian security prisoners, even if they involve exile to Gaza or abroad. At each of these junctures, Israel has deluded itself into thinking this time will be different, but time after time it becomes painfully evident that once a murderer always a murderer, and that once a terrorist always a terrorist. Around half of the nearly 14,000 terrorists Israel has set free since 1985 have returned in one form or another to the cycle of terror. Hundreds of Israelis have been murdered or wounded by released terrorists. Hundreds more attacks were prevented.

The First Intifada was put into motion by those released in the Jibril deal in 1985. Thousands of the terrorists freed between 1993 and 1999 took part in the Second Intifada, when hundreds of Israelis were murdered. Dozens of the terrorists released in the Elhanan Tannenbaum deal in 2004 murdered more than 40 Israelis. Now it's the turn of those released in the Schalit deal to attack, murder, shoot, maim and plan attacks. Many people (including this writer) sounded the alarm in advance. It's such a shame we were right.


Three of the most infamous Hamas leaders that left a trail of blood in their wake were first incarcerated for Israel: Sheikh Ahmed Yassin was released in the Jibril deal; Salah Shehadeh was released in 2000; and Abdullah Qawasmeh, banished to Lebanon in 1992. Saleh Arouri, who was banished from Israel in a bizarre deal instead of being arrested and jailed, is responsible for orchestrating numerous terrorist attacks, including the abduction and murder of three Israeli teens in 2014 after several years as head of "Hamas abroad" – from where he directed terrorist activity in Judea and Samaria.

Arouri in the meantime has ascended to the upper echelon of Hamas' hierarchy as deputy to Ismail Haniyeh, while the group's leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, was also released in the Schalit exchange. Sinwar was freed along with prominent terrorists Husam Badran, Tawfik Abu Naim and Zaher al-Jabarin. This cohort presently controls Hamas' murderous leadership in Gaza. Terrorists freed in the Schalit deal have thus far murdered (or been involved in the murders) of Rabbi Michael Mark, Malachi Rosenfeld, Baruch Mizrahi, Danny Gonen and the three teenagers abducted in Gush Etzion, Eyal Yifrach, Gil-ad Shaer and Naftali Fraenkel.

Every Israeli government has sinned by releasing terrorists who returned to murderous activities. The High Court of Justice's hands are also unclean because it has authorized these deals and gestures. Beyond the terrible immorality involved in any release of terrorists – beyond the humiliation, scorn for the law and court's rulings – we are faced with the bitter truth: Letting terrorists free perhaps brings home one or a handful of soldiers, and sometimes their bodies. They are extremely dear to our hearts. But always, without fail, freeing terrorists comes at an exceedingly heavier cost with countless more victims.

Every one of these deals and goodwill gesture pours more fuel on the terrorist fire and significantly contributes, whether directly or indirectly, to the next attack, murder or abduction. It practically invites them. We must remember this when we again find ourselves, Heaven forbid, in a situation where we are pressured to free terrorists. We must stop referring to them as "security prisoners" and quickly ensure that they no longer receive salaries – from the Palestinian Authority and its president, Mahmoud Abbas (to whom Israel still transfers funds) – for their crimes. This is a cold, cruel and agonizing calculation which every government, in its responsibility to the safety and security of its citizens, must make and adhere to in the future.

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