Mon, Dec 30, 2013

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/175707#.UsGLA9IW3BA

Almagor, the association representing bereaved families, filed two petitions Monday to the Supreme Court. One of them is against the decision to release 6 terrorists back to their Jerusalem homes; the other opposes a decision to ban a protest scheduled for Monday night at the Jerusalem home of one of the terrorists.

"We came to file a petition to cry out those cries that are not heard," stated Attorney Naftali Warzberger, who filed the petition in the name of Almagor.

Regarding the protest, the petitioners called on the court to recognize their rights to freedom of expression. "We have the right to freedom of expression," the petitioners noted. "The Jerusalem district court's decision [against the protest] does not fit our rights, as determined by the Supreme Court." 

Elihai Ben Yishai, brother of Ruth Fogel, who was murdered along with her husband and three of their young children in a brutal Arab terrorist attack was present at the Supreme Court as the petition was being submitted.

"I feel ashamed, I have no words," he told Arutz Sheva. "I came today because tomorrow they may release the killers of my sister-in-law. "

Israelis have been outraged at the releases, which many fear set a precedent for more terrorism. In an attempt to stem criticism, the Justice Ministry reiterated Monday that any terrorist who returns to terrorist activities, when caught, will have to not only serve the remainder of the past sentence, but also serve time for whatever act he was apprehended for, as a condition of the release.

Outrage at the upcoming release of 26 convicted terrorists, set for Monday night and early Tuesday morning, has snowballed over the past several days.

The Prime Minister's residence in Jerusalem has been a popular protest site against the release, with bereaved families holding demonstrations there on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday night, Sunday, and Sunday night.

Protests have also erupted across Israel as the release looms. On Sunday night, activists from Judea and Samaria and the Kommemiyut organization staged a mass protest at the entrance  to Jerusalem, warning government officials that "the writing is on the wall" for Israel's future.

On Thursday, another petition filed by Almagor preventing the entire release was rejected by the Supreme Court. "With all due understanding of the petitioners' pain, their petition does not raise any legal ground for intervention. The claims have been raised and ruled on in the past," stated the judges.

The previous terrorist release, in October, saw waves of protests across Israel. The demonstrations culminated in an emotional protest outside of the hotel room of US Secretary of State John Kerry and a petition submitted to the High Court to stop the releases.