WASHINGTON (JTA) — Four top Jewish lawmakers called for the names of the Palestinian prisoners released as part of the Gilad Shalit deal to be entered into databases of terrorists.
The four Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives wrote to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and the director of the FBI, Robert Mueller, urging them to list the names of more than 1,000 men and women being released in the prisoner swap in the appropriate databases.
"Each of these Palestinian prisoners has been convicted of a terrorism-related offense and should be treated as such," said the Oct. 28 letter, which was first obtained by Politico.
Listing the released men and women on the relevant databases would keep them from entering the United States.
Israel agreed to release 1,027 Palestinian men and women, all but a handful convicted of terrorist crimes, in exchange for Shalit, who had been held since 2006 when he was captured in a cross-border raid.
The representatives’ letter cites some of the bloodiest terrorist attacks of the Second Intifada, among others, in which released prisoners were involved.
The letter was signed by Rep. Howard Berman (D-Calif.), the senior Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-N.Y.), the senior Democrat on its Middle East subcommittee; Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), the senior Democrat on the Energy and Commerce Committee; and Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.), the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
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.
