At the weekly Shas faction meeting on Monday, Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri expressed his commitment to supporting any deal regarding the release of hostages that is brought before the government for approval.
“The Shas movement supports Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu’s efforts to bring about the release of the hostages, and will support any deal that is brought to government approval for this important goal,” Deri stated.
“We pray that the efforts will bear fruit and lead to the fulfillment of the commandment of ransoming captives, which is one of the most important commandments in Judaism – to save the lives of our kidnapped brothers and sisters, return the living to the embrace of their families, and ensure that the dead are given a Jewish burial,” he continued.
These remarks come after ten members of Israel’s ruling coalition, along with the Hagvura Forum for families of those killed in the war and the Tikva Forum for families of hostages, sent a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and other senior government officials. They urged opposition to the proposed ceasefire-prisoner exchange deal with Hamas.
“Do not cross the most, most basic ethical lines. Do not endanger Israel’s security,” the letter stated. “No one can replace the IDF soldiers at the Rafah Crossing and along the Netzarim Corridor. Do not agree to a deal in which we will lose assets without receiving all of the hostages.”
According to international reports, the first phase of the proposed deal would see 33 hostages freed in exchange for a six-week ceasefire in Gaza and the release of approximately 1,000 terrorists. Among those terrorists are 48 who were released in the 2011 “Shalit deal” and later re-arrested after returning to terror activities; approximately 90 female terrorists; 150-200 terrorists serving life sentences; around 350 terrorists under the age of 19; and about 560 terrorists who are elderly or ill.
{Matzav.com Israel}