Israel Matzav

Where's the follow-through?

Remember how Prime Minister Netanyahu made a big deal of announcing that he was going to cut back on the privileges of Hamas terrorists who are held in Israeli jails? Well, I'm sure you'll all be shocked to hear that the 'Palestinians' have already had a 'hunger strike,' but there hasn't been any change in their conditions yet.

The only change since the Prime Minister's declaration is that Hamas prisoners may not register for academic courses – but prisoners with only one exam left can take it and receive a degree.

The Prison Services representatives said that the benefits were not canceled in order to keep peace and quiet in the prisons, but they would consider further changes to worsen Hamas prisoners' conditions.

The Interior Committee meeting, which was closed to the media, was initiated by Coalition Chairman MK Ze'ev Elkin (Likud), MK Michael Ben-Ari (National Union) and MK Tzipi Hotovely (Likud).

Elkin said: "It can't be that the Prime Minister's policy isn't implemented by Prison Services. I expect them to take steps to worsen the prisoners' conditions and stop their day camp once and for all."

Hotovely complained that Schalit "in Hamas captivity, where no one can visit him or know his condition, but we let prisoners stay in a five-star hotel." The Likud MK called for legislation to be drafted that would change the current situation.

Ben-Ari blamed Netanyahu and Public Security Minister Itzhak Aharonovitch for not worsening Hamas prisoners' conditions.

"Netanyahu and Aharonovitch speak strongly, but they are letting the prisoners continue their party," he said. "Only in Israel do terrorists, including murderers of women and children, get such privileges."

What could go wrong?

Labels: Binyamin Netanyahu, Gilad Shalit, Israel Prisons Authority, Palestinian prisoners

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 8:37 AM