As Israel negotiates prisoner exchange, group seeks release of Jews who committed terror acts

An organization that helps Jews in legal difficulties due to right-wing activity is demanding the release of Jewish prisoners if Palestinians are let go in exchange for the kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit.

The organization, Honenu, has submitted to dozens of Knesset members a list of 38 Jewish prisoners it wants pardoned should a deal be reached. Most of the people on the list carried out attacks on Arabs.

These include Jews from the Bat Ayin group, which planned to set off a bomb in the Jerusalem village of A-Tur to avenge the murder of five-year-old Daniel Shefi in the West Bank settlement Adora. They also include David Amoyal of Rishon Letzion, who shot and injured two Arabs after the murder of the baby Shalhevet Pas in Hebron.

Honenu members, whose bid is supported by ministers and MKs from Shas, cite cases in which former president Ezer Weizman commuted the sentences of Jewish terrorists when Arab prisoners were released as part of goodwill gestures during the period of the Oslo Accords.

Among other things, the organization cites a letter by former prime minister Ariel Sharon, written when he served as foreign minister in Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet, supporting the commuting of Jewish terrorists' sentences when Palestinian terrorists were released. Forty-five MKs, including Amram Mitzna (Labor), supported that move.

Honenu says in its letter to the MKs that no Jewish terrorist who was released before serving his term has attacked Arabs again. It also objects to equating the two kinds of terror. Although the organization does not justify "Jewish terror," it says that such acts derived from factors such as erroneous judgment or personal bereavement.

The High Court of Justice rejected a petition submitted some 10 years ago by Jewish prisoners who had carried out terror attacks on Arabs. The petitioners wanted the government to stop releasing Palestinian prisoners without releasing the Jews as well. The right wing lobbied president Weizman, who commuted the sentences of numerous prisoners, including that of Yoram Skolnik, who had murdered a bound Palestinian suspect.

Also on Honenu's current list are four border policemen who sought revenge after losing five colleagues in an alley in Hebron. They were charged with killing an Arab who they claimed had died after he jumped off their jeep.

Others on the list include Ami Popper, who murdered seven Arab laborers and was sentenced to seven life sentences before his term was commuted to 40 years, and Shai Dromi, who killed a Bedouin who broke into his farm.