Israeli politicians call for extremist killers to be freed

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has been urged by 55 ministers and Knesset members to pardon Israeli inmates convicted of killing Palestinians, according to the Middle East Eye and agencies on October 28th.

Among those demanding the pardons are Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, figures who were sanctioned by various governments, including the UK, over their open contempt for Palestinian life.

In a letter to Herzog, the lawmakers wrote, “[o]ver the past few days, the Israeli government has been releasing thousands of terrorists,” in reference to the recent prisoner swap between Israel and Hamas.

“Our signatures in no way constitute agreement with their actions,” the signatories said in reference to the Jewish Israelis that have been convicted of murder.

The letter also said: “While these Jews languish in prison, leaving suffering families and sometimes even those who were victims of terrorism, they see terrorists, including despicable murderers, making their way to freedom with their people and their families.”

The letter ended with: “We call on you, Mr President, to act immediately for the release of these handful of Jewish prisoners and to correct this injustice.”

One such prisoner some Israelis are calling for the release of is Amiram Ben-Uliel, who was convicted in 2020 for the 2015 firebombing of the Dawabsheh family home in Duma, a village in the Occupied West Bank. The attack killed parents, Riham and Saad, along with 18-month-old Ali; but four-year-old Ahmad survived with extreme burns.

Ben-Uliel was part of the paramilitary settler group, Hilltop Youth, which more recently seemed to be involved in clashes with Israeli forces in June. The 2015 firebombing was part of a broader campaign of “price tag” attacks against Palestinians in the Occupied West Bank.

Speaking about the Israeli prisoners, MP Limor Son Har-Melech, said during an interview with Ynet: “There is no moral justification for keeping Jews in prison who, even if they made a mistake, pose no danger to the public.”

Middle East Eye and agencies, Al Jazeera plus agencies, Ynet, Maghrebi.org