New bill would strip benefits from terrorists in Israeli jails

Proposal, which seemingly has defense minister’s support, would bar security prisoners from receiving visits, canteen privileges

Draft legislation submitted to the Knesset for its first reading Wednesday would strip Palestinian security prisoners of all privileges that are not required under international law.

The proposal by Yisrael Beytenu MK Oded Forer as the family of a fallen Israeli soldier whose remains Hamas is holding in Gaza demanded the government cancel recent improvements to jail conditions for prisoners from the terror group.

Under Forer’s proposal, Palestinian prisoners convicted on terror charges would not be allowed visitors or to receive photographs, Channel 2 reported Wednesday. Moreover, prisoners would be barred from having televisions or video consoles in their cells, receiving money from outside sources into their bank account, purchasing anything at the canteen, and pursuing a higher education from prison.

“The time has come for terrorists in prison to stop the day camp and start living like they’re in prison,” Forer said in a statement.

“It cannot be that while terror victims and their families pay such a heavy price and live with such great suffering, the terrorists who put them in that position play computer games in prison and enjoy educational and recreational activities,” he added.

Forer was consulting with Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan to drum up his support. Channel 2 noted that the proposal ostensibly had the support of Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman, who, as the leader of the Yisrael Beytenu party, must approve which bills advance.

Oded Forer at the Begin Heritage Institute, Jerusalem, February 22, 2015. (Hadas Parush/Flash90

On Tuesday night, in a letter addressed to Prisons Service Commissioner Ofra Klinger and Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan, the parents of slain soldier Oron Shaul said they were “shocked to discover” a decision to give some 3,500 Hamas prisoners a number of perks over the past month.

These benefits included permission to watch the 2016 European soccer championships, an increase from three to seven television channels, hard-boiled eggs at meals, and an additional NIS 200 ($128) for the canteen, although the letter did not say how often the extra money would be granted.

“It is unacceptable that Hamas prisoners will enjoy easy conditions and a host of benefits while the Hamas organization refuses to return our sons Oron and Hadar Goldin who were captured in Operation Protective Edge,” wrote the parents, also referring to another soldier whose remains are being held in Gaza.

Oron Shaul, Hadar Goldin and Avraham Mengistu. (Flash90/The Times of Israel)

“Hamas has so far avoided any humanitarian action required by international law regarding the passing on of information about prisoners,” they added.

The letter from Shaul’s parents was also sent to the ministerial committee tasked with the return of the bodies of the Israeli soldiers, as well as the return of two living Israelis being held captive in the Strip. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon and Interior Minister Aryeh Deri are on the panel.

The committee was set up following a cabinet meeting over whether to authorize a recent deal for normalization of relations with Turkey. Ankara was thought to be able to pressure Hamas into releasing the Israeli prisoners, but the final deal excluded any provisions on the captives or the missing soldiers.

Housing Minister Yoav Galant speaks with the parents of Avraham Mengistu and parents of late IDF soldier Oron Shaul outside the Prime Minister’s Office, during a protest against the agreement with Turkey in Jerusalem, June 29, 2016. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

The families of Shaul, Goldin and Avraham Abera Mengistu — one of the captives who wandered into the Strip in 2014 and suffers from mental illness, according to his family — staged a protest at the main commercial crossing into the coastal enclave Sunday morning, as an initial shipment of Turkish aid was set to be transferred via the checkpoint.

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