Fogel's father: I'd agree to murderers' release for Schalit

Father of massacre victim Udi Fogel discusses his views on sentence after one of two Itamar family murderers sentenced to 130 years in prison.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Suspects in Fogel, Itamar massacre_311 (photo credit: Courtesy)
Suspects in Fogel, Itamar massacre_311
(photo credit: Courtesy)
Chaim Fogel, father of Udi Fogel who was murdered in Itamar in March, said Wednesday that he would agree to his son's killers being returned to Gaza in exchange for the release of IDF soldier Gilad Schalit.
"If they tell me that in exchange for the release of the two murderers Gilad Schalit will return home, I would agree - despite my opposition in principle to such transactions," Chaim told Army Radio.
RELATED:Second man accused in Itamar massacre on trialHis comments came the day after Samaria District Military Court sentenced one of the two murderers of the Fogel family to 130 years in prison. Hakim Awad, 18, confessed to charges of murdering five family members in Itamar- Udi and Ruth Fogel and three of their children. His cousin and accomplice Amjad Awad has yet to be sentenced.
The victim's father expressed his belief that the state must determine that crimes of a certain status are punishable only by death.
"There is no relief or comfort from the severe penalty imposed on the killers." Chaim added, "there is some closure, after the security forces and prosecution fulfilled their duties, and the judges gave the most severe possible sentence they could give, but there is one more abominable murderer left who is yet to be sentenced to his fate. "
“I don’t regret what I did, and would do it again,” Amjad Awad, who is awaiting his sentence, told reporters in May.
“I’m proud of what I did and I’ll accept any punishment I get, even death, because I did it all for Palestine.”
Joanna Paraszczuk contributed to this article.