Terrorists freed in prisoner swaps may be classed parolees

Move, which is backed by ministers, would ease the way back to prison for repeat offenders.

By RON FRIEDMAN
palestinian prisoner release V 224.88 ap (photo credit: Courtesy)
palestinian prisoner release V 224.88 ap
(photo credit: Courtesy)
The Ministerial Committee for Legislation on Sunday approved government support for a bill determining that terrorists released in a future prisoner exchange would be considered released on parole only, and if caught repeating their crime would be put back in prison for the remainder of their sentence.
The bill, sponsored by Likud MK Danny Danon, would equate the treatment of people convicted of terrorism related crimes, whatever sentence they received, to that of people sentenced to life sentences.
At present, people who are pardoned and released in prisoner exchange deals, who were serving lesser sentences, can’t be returned to prison without being found guilty in court again.
The committee also approved as a government bill legislation to grant health benefits to people who suffer from polio, and who contracted the disease before coming to Israel. The bill, sponsored by Likud MK Tzion Pinyan, would mean these people would enjoy the same rights as those who contracted polio in the country.
The committee also voted against a series of proposals, among them a bill to establish a fund to divide up state earnings from fuel tax revenues, a bill that would limit the age of foreign workers allowed to enter the country to people over the age of 35, a bill announcing April 25 as a holiday for the Druse population celebrating the day of the prophet Jethro and a bill that would protect the privacy of people tested for workplace suitability.
The ministers postponed by three months the vote on a bill concerning the protection of confidential sources by journalists. The measured, sponsored by Kadima MK Nachman Shai, a former journalist and IDF spokesman, would protect journalists from having to disclose sources, unless revealing them would prevent a crime.