US Pressuring Israel to Release Palestinian Terrorists from Prison in “Goodwill Gesture”

Members of the Israeli Knesset are reacting with dismay to the pressure from the United States to release a number of Palestinian terrorists convicted of attacking and in some cases killing Jewish People as a “goodwill gesture” to promote the resumption of peace talks with the Palestinians. Secretary of State John Kerry followed the recent visit by President Obama to Israel with a round of diplomacy aimed at restarting the stalled peace process.

Among those the U.S. listed for release are the terrorists who killed Rachel Weiss and her three children, Ephraim, Netanel and Raphael, in 1993 by burning them to death, as well as soldier David Delarosa, who tried to save them. Knesset Member Orit Struk said, “The demand is shocking … not just because of the danger that these terrorists will return to terrorist activity once they are released, but the release of terrorists is an energizing shot of encouragement to terror and terrorists.”

At a time when Israel is facing increasing threats on every hand, it is especially discouraging to the Jewish People to find themselves under pressure from their friends to make even further concessions in the name of a peace that few on the other side seem to want. If there was a genuine willingness for peace, a deal could have been reached. Instead, Palestinian leadership continues to insist on preconditions before talks can even begin—talks that include concessions from Israel that would favor them … again.

The nation of Israel has been pushed to the limit trying to prevent attacks and prepare for potential threats. Israeli Defense Force (IDF) soldiers are mobilizing northern Israel to deal with the threat of chemical and biological weapons falling into the hands of terrorists. Israeli troops are on high alert along the border with Egypt to prevent suicide bombers from infiltrating the country. Israeli missile defense teams are deployed to face the threat of massive air attacks.