Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich demanded on Monday that a bill to adopt the principles of the Shamgar Commission, which would impose broad restrictions on the release of terrorists in exchange deals, be brought before the Security Cabinet. In response, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed Likud members to oppose it.
Smotrich sent a letter to Netanyahu demanding that a bill outlining principles for the redemption of captives and missing persons, based on the conclusions of the Shamgar Commission, be brought for approval by the Security Cabinet.
“The absence of an orderly policy by the State of Israel in facing these challenges places every Israeli citizen, at home and abroad, under a real threat of abduction and use as a strategic bargaining chip,” he wrote.
“Precisely at this time, after we have returned all of our hostages, it is possible to make a substantive and correct decision.”
Officials surprised by Netanyahu's stance
At the same time, the Religious Zionism Party raised the proposal on Sunday for discussion in the Ministerial Committee for Legislation. Prime Minister Netanyahu instructed members of his Likud party to oppose the bill, and officials in Religious Zionism were surprised by the move. In the end, the discussion was postponed.
Among the proposed restrictions are: a ban on releasing those who held command roles and directed cells that carried out or attempted to carry out terrorist offenses; those who returned to terrorist activity after being released; those who have served less than two-thirds of their sentence; and those who were Israeli citizens or permanent residents at the time of committing the offense.
The bill further stipulates that the government will prepare a closed list of terrorists who would be eligible to be released in the event of a new exchange deal. Under the proposal, no concession will be granted merely for entering into negotiations or for continuing them, and no additional concession will be given for the release of hostages beyond the release of terrorists in accordance with the limitations set by law.
In the event that the State of Israel declares war following an abduction, the government would be authorized to release up to five terrorists for each hostage only after the enemy’s defeat.