Israeli settler leaders have appealed to President Shimon Peres to pardon jailed Jewish terrorists.
The mayors of several West Bank settlements said this week they had written to Peres asking him to pardon some 30 Jewish security prisoners in honor of Israel’s 60th Independence Day.
According to Israel Radio, the inmates in question are serving lengthy jail terms for carrying out or plotting deadly attacks on Arabs, or for mounting violent resistance to the 2005 Gaza Strip withdrawal.
Most have voiced remorse, and the mayors argued that they should be deserving of clemency no less than the hundreds of Palestinian terrorists who recently won early release from jail as part of peace talks.
Peres’ office had no immediate comment on the appeal.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
