Four months ago Israelis were shocked by the murder of four Jews near the town of Beit Chaggai in Judea. The four were shot at close range by Palestinian Authority terrorists.
Those killed were Yitzchak and Talya Imes, parents of six; Kochava Even-Chaim, who was survived by her husband and a young daughter, and newlywed Avishai Shindler.
On Thursday, PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas decided to release one of the killers. Wael Bitar of Hevron was let out of a PA prison along with five other Hamas terrorists, according to Voice of Israel radio.
Bitar was also involved in a suicide bombing that murdered one person in Dimona and wounded several others.
The PA arrested him once in 2008, the year of the bombing, but later released him.
Danny Dayan, head of the Yesha (Judea and Samaria) Council, called on Israeli troops to make up for the PA's actions by capturing the released killer as soon as possible.
“The delusion that Abbas plans to fight terrorism has been shattered yet again by the PA's 'revolving door,'” he declared.
The PA has often demanded that Israel release or pardon terrorists as a “good-will gesture” during negotiations. Abbas has repeatedly said that his ultimate goal is the release of all PA terrorists from Israeli prisons, including those guilty of multiple murders.
A special PA ministry provides for terrorists in Israeli prisons, sending them money, with more given to those who have committed more serious offenses. The PA 'Minister of Prisoners Affairs' recently rewarded a woman for having raised four sons who all murdered Israelis.
Among those who pressured Abbas to release Bitar was Israeli-Arab Sheikh Raed Salah, head of the northern branch of the extremist Islamic Movement. Salah has been arrested for anti-Israel incitement on several occasions, and in May participated in an attempt by Turkish pro-terror activists to forcibly break the IDF naval blockade of Hamas.
Qatari leaders pushed for Bitar's release as well.
PA Releases Beit Haggai Killer
PA Chairman Abbas has ordered the release of Wael Bitar, who was involved in the slaying of four Jews from Beit Haggai just four months ago.
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