Protesters marching against third batch of te
Protesters marching against third batch of teFlash 90

Hundreds of Israelis poured onto the Jerusalem streets to protest in front of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's residence Monday night, marching to the Old City in a display of opposition to the imminent release of 26 terrorists in the third batch of "gestures" for peace talks with the Palestinian Authority (PA).

Jeremy Dery, a new immigrant who joined the protest, spoke to Arutz Sheva, saying "this is truly a sad chapter in Israeli history." Dery pointed out that the release has no advantage for Israel other than supposedly aiding peace talks, and "strengthens and encourages terrorism in the future."

The tent protest outside of Netanyahu's residence has let the Israeli public see bereaved families, serving a warning to Netanyahu that the warning is wrong, and warning the people that what's happened to the bereaved families could happen to them as well, remarks Dery.

After reaching the Old City in what was termed the "black umbrella march," some protesters continued to the home of Ahmed Khalaf, one of five Jerusalem Arabs to be released in the deal. The protest outside Khalaf's home was authorized by the High Court, despite opposition by police.

The Supreme Court rejected a last minute petition filed by activists and bereaved families to stop the terrorist release, claiming "there is no cause for us to intervene in such processes, as they are political decisions."

Similarly the Jewish Home has refused to get involved by breaking apart the coalition government so as to prevent the release of terrorist murderers. MK Shuli Muallem-Refaeli said Monday at the tent protest that her party's "red line" is the eviction of more Jews from Judea and Samaria, but not terrorist releases.

For his part, Netanyahu justified the release Monday, saying that his government was not there to make "easy decisions. True leadership is tested when it has to make difficult decisions.”