Netanyahu blasts IDF bid to form parole committee for terrorists

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that he opposed the early release of convicted terrorists, vowing to block the army’s reported effort to establish an advisory parole board for Palestinians given life sentences by military courts in the West Bank.

“Regarding the talk about shortening terrorists’ sentences – I strongly oppose this,” Netanyahu said at the opening of the weekly cabinet meeting in the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem. “I know that this is also the position of the defense minister and, therefore, it will not happen.”

Earlier, Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman tweeted, “As long as I am defense minister, no terrorist will get a shortened sentence, not even by one hour.”

Education Minister Naftali Bennett also spoke out against the parole proposal, telling reports before the cabinet meeting, “We must not shorten the punishment of a murderous terrorist; a terrorist who murders should die in prison.”

Their comments came in response to a Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper report that in the coming days the IDF will publicize details of an order to set up an advisory committee on parole for those serving life sentences, a policy that would require a change in the law.

The move is intended to bring the military prison system into line with civilian prions, where inmates have access to parole hearings.

Palestinians who carry out crimes, including attacks on Israelis, in the West Bank are tried by the IDFs military courts in the territory. The court system is under army jurisdiction and operates independently of Israel’s civilian courts.

There are dozens of convicted terrorists currently serving out life sentences that were handed down by military courts in the West Bank.

In the past, Palestinians sentenced to life by military courts were only given early release as part of prisoner exchange deals or other agreements made by Israel’s political leadership.

Although the IDF’s Central Command chief can grant paroles, he doesn’t exercise that power, and even if the new parole committee were to be established, he would retain the final word, the report said.