Lawmakers push bill barring prisoner releases

The Knesset’s Law Committee approved Monday a controversial bill that would prevent Israeli leaders from being able to release convicted prisoners in exchange for political concessions in talks with Palestinians.

The legislation, which was presented by Jewish Home MKs Ayelet Shaked and Orit Strock and MK David Tzur of Hatnua, still requires two final votes in the Knesset plenum before it becomes law.

The bill states that any inmate serving time for aggravated murder must remain in prison for at least 15 years before being allowed to appeal for a shortened sentence, and in no case may such a convict spend less than 40 years in jail.

“The Knesset is on its way to putting an end to the lawlessness of heinous killers being freed for questionable [diplomatic] deals, and to the abuse endured by the families of [terror] victims as a result of the premature release of criminals and the release of murderous terrorists,” Shaked said after the bill passed the committee.

The measure would only apply to those sentenced in the future and not those currently serving time in jail.

The release of convicted murderers became one of the most divisive issues within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling coalition over the past year after he agreed to free over 100 Palestinian terror prisoners at the outset of the most recent round of peace talks with the Palestinians.