Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's proposal to release 250 Fatah terrorists from Israeli jails has drawn scathing criticism, and some support, from opposition Knesset Members. Olmert announced the mass release of the convicted terrorists during his speech at the closing of the four-way summit on Monday in Sharm El-Sheikh.
Chairman of the National Religious Party (NRP), Knesset Member Zevulun Orlev, said that the Prime Minister has again displayed a lack of thoughtfulness, irresponsibility and impulsiveness in his decision-making. "The only consideration in exchange for release of the prisoners is Olmert's [political] survival and, as on previous occasions, the citizens of Israel will be forced to suffer the attacks of those released terrorists."
MK Yuli Edelstein of the Likud party said that Prime Minister Olmert's speech showed that Olmert "has forgotten which state he heads and which people's interests he is supposed to preserve." According to Edelstein, "Olmert gave precedence to the Palestinians' suffering, instead of making it clear to Abu Mazen [Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas] that, in order to receive gestures from Israel, he needs to act towards a true eradication of terror."
MK Tzvi Hendel, representing the National Union party on the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, said that Olmert continues charging down a path that leads to a weakening of Israel. "If the released terrorists were arrested after the Oslo Accords," Hendel asked, "then what has changed? Then, too, we said that Fatah members want peace and we have to caress and hug them, and they committed crimes against Israeli citizens nonetheless. And now, reality will bite again, under Olmert's auspices."
Hendel warned, "Every extra minute that [Olmert] remains in office increases the threat to Israel."
Olmert "has forgotten which state he heads and which people's interests he is supposed to preserve." - MK Yuli Edelstein
The National Union-NRP faction's Aryeh Eldad said that, despite the Sharm El-Sheikh summit's failure, Olmert demonstrated a "Pavlovian" reaction by releasing prisoners and rewarding terrorism. Referring to future victims of terror acts by the released terrorists, Eldad said, "The blood of the murdered innocents will be upon the head of the person who releases murderers for the sake of his political survival."
In contrast, chairman of the opposition Meretz-Yahad faction, Yossi Beilin, called Olmert's public commitments to release imprisoned terrorists and otherwise reduce restrictions imposed on the Palestinian Authority a courageous start. "If Olmert is actually prepared to take the steps he has outlined, it will be a brave move," MK Beilin said.
In the wake of the prime minister's speech at Sharm El-Sheikh, MK Yitzchak Levy (National Union-NRP) called upon Strategic Affairs Minister Avigdor Lieberman to resign. "Olmert's speech makes it impossible for Lieberman to remain a member of the government," Levy said of the Israel Beiteinu party chairman. "The time has come for Lieberman to shake off the failed leftist policies of the government and prove that he is still a member of the national camp."
Chairman of the National Religious Party (NRP), Knesset Member Zevulun Orlev, said that the Prime Minister has again displayed a lack of thoughtfulness, irresponsibility and impulsiveness in his decision-making. "The only consideration in exchange for release of the prisoners is Olmert's [political] survival and, as on previous occasions, the citizens of Israel will be forced to suffer the attacks of those released terrorists."
MK Yuli Edelstein of the Likud party said that Prime Minister Olmert's speech showed that Olmert "has forgotten which state he heads and which people's interests he is supposed to preserve." According to Edelstein, "Olmert gave precedence to the Palestinians' suffering, instead of making it clear to Abu Mazen [Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas] that, in order to receive gestures from Israel, he needs to act towards a true eradication of terror."
MK Tzvi Hendel, representing the National Union party on the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, said that Olmert continues charging down a path that leads to a weakening of Israel. "If the released terrorists were arrested after the Oslo Accords," Hendel asked, "then what has changed? Then, too, we said that Fatah members want peace and we have to caress and hug them, and they committed crimes against Israeli citizens nonetheless. And now, reality will bite again, under Olmert's auspices."
Hendel warned, "Every extra minute that [Olmert] remains in office increases the threat to Israel."
Olmert "has forgotten which state he heads and which people's interests he is supposed to preserve." - MK Yuli Edelstein
The National Union-NRP faction's Aryeh Eldad said that, despite the Sharm El-Sheikh summit's failure, Olmert demonstrated a "Pavlovian" reaction by releasing prisoners and rewarding terrorism. Referring to future victims of terror acts by the released terrorists, Eldad said, "The blood of the murdered innocents will be upon the head of the person who releases murderers for the sake of his political survival."
In contrast, chairman of the opposition Meretz-Yahad faction, Yossi Beilin, called Olmert's public commitments to release imprisoned terrorists and otherwise reduce restrictions imposed on the Palestinian Authority a courageous start. "If Olmert is actually prepared to take the steps he has outlined, it will be a brave move," MK Beilin said.
In the wake of the prime minister's speech at Sharm El-Sheikh, MK Yitzchak Levy (National Union-NRP) called upon Strategic Affairs Minister Avigdor Lieberman to resign. "Olmert's speech makes it impossible for Lieberman to remain a member of the government," Levy said of the Israel Beiteinu party chairman. "The time has come for Lieberman to shake off the failed leftist policies of the government and prove that he is still a member of the national camp."