Itongadol.- The Ministerial Committee on Legislation approved Sunday draft legislation that could make it illegal to release terrorists convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison as part of prisoner swaps and peace gestures.
Seven ministers from Habayit Hayehudi and Likud-Beytenu supported the bill, outnumbering the three Hatnuah and Yesh Atid ministers, who wanted the measure defeated. The bill still has to pass several Knesset Plenum votes before it becomes law.
The bill includes amendments to Basic Law: The President of the State, which empowers the president to pardon convicted criminals or commute their sentences. Under the proposed legislation, sponsored by Habayit Hayehudi faction leader Ayelet Shaked and other right-wing lawmakers, courts may deny terrorists any form of clemency if they are sentenced to life in prison, essentially restricting the president\’s powers.
"Over the past several years, Israel has released a large number of terrorists in prisoner swaps or as part of gestures. This has created an absurd situation where terrorists who commit murder as part of their fight against the State of Israel get released well before they serve out their term," the bill\’s preamble states. "This bill would remedy that and prevent a situation where political pressure results in a prisoner swap or gestures that involve the pardoning of terrorists who have committed murders," it continues.
Following the vote, Shaked said the government has finally "put an end to the insanity of releasing murderers; the state must not get involved in such matters." She stressed that this bill was essential because capital punishment is not used against terrorists.
Habayit Hayehudi Chairman and Economy and Trade Minister Naftali Bennett echoed Shaked, saying that Israel has "finally changed course when it comes to combating terrorism and upholding its moral duties toward the bereaved families. The years where there was a wholesale release of prisoners alongside various efforts to extort the government will have ended once this bill passes in the Knesset." Bennett said his party will make sure this bill is submitted for a vote without delay.