Israel Matzav

IDF Chief of Staff calls Olmert's terrorist release immoral

In honor of Ramadamadan, the Olmert-Barak-Livni government released fifty-seven 'Palestinian' terrorists today to their residences in Judea and Samaria, and the government will apparently release another thirty tomorrow to their residences in Gaza. The reason for holdup in the release of the final thirty is that President Shimon Peres had some pangs of conscience about signing for their release after receiving a letter from IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi (pictured at top left) calling the release immoral:

The President's Office gave no explanation as to why Peres signed the papers late, which meant that the Gazan prisoners could not join the 57 detainees from the West Bank who returned to their homes on Monday.

However, security officials said IDF Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi sent Peres a letter saying it was "immoral" to release prisoners to Gaza while terrorists there are still holding Cpl. Gilad Schalit, captured in a cross-border raid in June of last year.

Peres spokesman Yoram Dori refused to comment on the defense officials' report or discuss the delay.

In connection with previous prisoner releases, I have discussed the problems that Prime Minister Ehud K. Olmert has had in finding terrorists to be released who do not have 'blood on their hands.' This ought to give you some idea of how low the government is willing to stoop:

Among those released was 66-year-old Rakad Salim, who had served five years of an eight-year sentence for distributing millions of dollars from Iraqi president Saddam Hussein to the families of suicide bombers. Salim's relatives and supporters held up pictures of Hussein and kissed and hugged Salim after he got off the bus.

"I feel that I am a new man, enjoying my freedom," said a smiling Salim. "This release is not enough, but we hope it is the beginning of emptying all the [Israeli] prisons."

YNet has more details about Ashkenazi's letter:

The release of Gazan prisoners for Ramadan poses a ethical problem as long as kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit remains captive in Gaza, claimed IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi in a letter recently addressed to the political echelon.

In his letter, Ashkenazi did not oppose the release of prisoners, or attempt to prevent it, but merely expressed his feelings about the process.

There are obviously excellent reasons that releasing terrorists like these doesn't 'feel right.'

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 12:29 AM