Sunday, December 3, 2023, 19:19 The Israeli government continues to draw criticism for the release of terrorists in the framework of the deal to bring the hostages home. Honenu Attorney Chayim Bleicher sent a letter to all of the ministers denouncing the failure of the government to take the trouble to update the terror victims as to how the relevant authorities have been directed to safeguard their security. Likewise, at the request of the victims, before the release of the terrorists, letters were sent to the Prime Minister and the Defense Minister demanding that they find solutions to the situation created by the release. The letters received neither proper consideration nor a reply.
"Therefore, it is inexplicable that the government chose to include these terrorists and additional terrorists of their ilk over other terrorists whose release would be less harmful," wrote Attorney Bleicher in his letter to the government ministers. "The release of the terrorists is an additional injury to a terror victim who has already paid an extremely high price in the struggle for life in our country. How can the apathy of the government toward the terror victims be explained? How can the disregard of the terror victims, which deepens their injury, be explained?
"The State of Israel is in a crisis and unfortunately forced to release terrorists to the streets of Israel. However, in this complex situation, consideration must be exercised and the terror victims must be cared for to the greatest extent possible. Therefore, the government's conduct regarding the release of the terrorists and the lack of an attempt to minimize the harm to the victims and the security of citizens are incomprehensible. We ask each member of the government to put an end to this failure, take responsibility, and genuinely examine and provide an appropriate reply to the requests of the terror victims," added Attorney Bleicher.
The sharp criticism follows the release of numerous terrorists to the streets of Jerusalem. The letter cites the case of Moriya Cohen, who was stabbed by a terrorist who lives near her. The terrorist was released last week, and despite all of the letters written to the government on the matter, not one was answered, other than by National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. Also, the terrorist who stabbed Eliyahu Dahan one year ago is once again freely wandering the streets of Jerusalem. Dahan was seriously injured and is still in rehabilitation. The situation is similar concerning the release of additional terrorists whose names the Prime Minister and the Defense Minister were requested to remove from the to-be-released list. The letters were not answered.
Honenu Attorney Chayim Bleicher stated, "Despite requests from terror victims for information and answers, no official representative of the government has been in contact with the terror victims. As of now, nobody has taken the trouble to update the victims as to whether or not the terrorists who injured them have been released. It is very unfortunate that at a time when terrorists are being released to the public sphere, and the status of Hamas is strengthening among the Arab population, the government of Israel is ignoring terror victims and not caring for citizens who sacrificed so much for the State of Israel."