Some of the victims of the murderers being released

From Times of Israel:

The Israel Prison Service published the names late Sunday night of 26 Palestinian prisoners set to be released over the next 48 hours as part of a deal to keep the US-brokered Israeli-Palestinian peace talks on course. All are convicted murderers.

Among the prisoners to go free is Damouni Saad Mohammed Ahmed, who was convicted in the 1990 lynch of IDF reservist Amnon Pomerantz in the Gaza Strip — Pomerantz’s car was set on fire while he was inside.

The killer behind the 1993 murder of South-African-born Ian Feinberg, a 30-year-old lawyer and activist working with Palestinians in Gaza, will also be set free. Masoud Issa Rajeb Amer, a member of the PFLP, was sentenced to three life sentences for the killing, which was perpetrated with a hatchet. On April 18, 1993, Feinberg participated in a meeting in the Gaza offices of a European-funded NGO involved in aid projects when terrorists burst in, ordered everyone, except Feinberg, to the floor, and proceeded to kill him.

Massalha Awwad Mohammed Yusuf and Amawi Hamed Alabad Halmi, both Hamas members who killed 22-year-old Yigal Vaknin in 1993, are also on the list. Vaknin was lured with a plea for help and stabbed to death. His body was found in a field near his home in Moshav Bazra in the Sharon region, two hours before the start on Yom Kippur that year. Yusuf was originally sentenced to two life terms for the killing.

Also included is Haga Salim Mahmud Mo’id who in May 1992 swam from Aqaba, Jordan to Eilat along with three other terrorists and shot 62-year-old Yosef Shirazi to death. Various weapons were found on Mo’id which led authorities to believe they planned a much larger attack.

JPost adds:

Samarin Mustafa Kalib Asrar and Kra'an Azat Musa Musa, the two Fatah terrorists who abducted and murdered Israeli soldier Tzvi Klein in the West Bank in 1992 are also scheduled to be released this week.

Abu-Dahila Hasan Atik Sharif, a Fatah operative who was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Avi Osher, his Israeli employer at the Jordan Valley farm he owned, in 1991, is also among those to be freed this week.

Gnimat Amar Mahmad Mustafa and Gnimat Mahmoud Mahmad Ziad, two Palestinian men convicted in the murder of Meir Ben-Yair and Michal Cohen while they sat in a car in Judean foothills in 1985 are also set to be freed.

The two Palestinians convicted of killing Yoself Eliyahu and Leah Elmakayes are also among the 26 names announced by the IPS late Sunday. Yosef Mahmad Haza Haza and Beni-Hasan Abdalla Mahmud Otman were serving life sentences for the murder of Eliyahu and Elmakayes, two hikers trekking across a forest in the Gilboa Mountains.

Asor Masbach Khalil Mahmad, who was serving a 30-year jail term for the murder of Israeli taxi driver David Kaspi in 1985, will also go free this week, the IPS announced.

Abed al Raba Nimr Jabril Issa, the Palestinian man convicted of killing Revital Seri and Ron Levy while they were hiking in 1984, is also on the list of prisoners scheduled to be released this week.

Sabbag Ahmed Mahmud Mahmed was a young Fatah operative who was given a life term in prison for the torture and murder of three Palestinians suspected of collaborating with Israel in 1990. He, too, will be released this week.

YNet has the full list of murderers being released. Here are some additional victims I could identify from various lists of attacks:

Rafi Farhoud Karajeh, arrested in May 1985, had murdered Aharon Avidar, who was 28.

Hazem Kassem Shbair was one of the killers of Isaac Rotenberg, who was 67 when he was murdered with an axe. He was a Holocaust survivor. Shbair's partner in murder was released during the earlier release.

Najeh Mohamed Muqbel, together with his friend, murdered his employer. Ya'akov Shalom.

Abdel Rahman Yusef al- Haj murdered 42-year old Genia Friedman in 1992 on the street in Kfar Sava. He stabbed three others as well. Genia left behind am 11 year old daughter.

Osama Zakariya Abu Hanani and Mohamed Yusef Turkeman shot and killed Moshe Biton and injured his wife Mali  near a convenience store. Ahmed Said Abdel Aziz, also being released, planned the attack.

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PA says releasing murderers is a step towards "peace." In Arabic they are complaining that it is not enough

From Ma'an:

The Palestinian Authority Minister of Detainees said Monday that Israel's decision to release the first group of Palestinian prisoners was an important step for promoting peace.

"President Abu Mazen has succeeded in putting the issue of prisoners as a political and national priority and saved it from unfair conditions imposed by Israel," Issa Qaraqe said.

The first stage of the prisoner release is a strategic step to toward the liberation of all Palestinian detainees, he added.

Abbas Zaki, a member of Fatah's Central Committee, also welcomed the prisoner release, saying freeing all Palestinian detainees was a key priority.

Israeli attempts to use the issue of prisoners as a bargaining chip is doomed to fail, he added.

You see that? Releasing murderers is a step towards "peace"!

Orwell lives!

In Arabic, the word "peace" isn't mentioned. Abbas Zaki in fact mentioned that this was a reminder of the first lopsided prisoner release to the PLO, a 1983 swap of 4700 Lebanese and Palestinian Arabs for 6 Israeli soldiers.

Also in Arabic the Palestinian leaders are complaining about the release of prisoners, saying that some of them would have been released soon anyway, and that 16 of them were unjustly sentenced to begin with (they were only "accomplices.") These were also not the most senior prisoners, nor the ones that have become "symbols." They are literally saying that this release is an insult and a "stab in the back" and the list is "childish" and an attempt to thwart negotiations.  Furthermore, they are complaining that some of the prisoners are being released to Gaza instead of the West Bank.

Ma'an has a list of the prisoners being released, but of course nothing about the victims.

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List of terrorists being released this week for no good reason. And their forgotten victims. (UPDATED)

Here is the list of terrorists being released by Israel on August 14 in exchange for literally nothing.

Terrorist		Date of Arrest		Charge(s)		Names of Victim(s)
Fayez Mutawi al-Khur		Nov-85		Murder, Attempted Murder		Solomon AbuKassis, Menahem Dadon
Salah Ibrahim Ahmed Mugdad		Jun-93		Murder		Israel Tannenbaum (night watchman in Netanya) Israel Tenenbaum was born in Poland on 11 September 1921. His father was Zorah Tenenbaum. He immigrated to Israel in 1957, at age 36, and settled in Moshav Ein Vered. He worked in agriculture on the moshav for many years, and was well regarded by the other residents as a quiet, modest man. On Monday, 14 June 1993, Israel’s body was found at the Sirens Hotel in Netanya, where he had been working as a night watchman. A terrorist had murdered him on the job.
Samir Nayef al-Na’neesh		Mar-89		Murder		Binyamin Meisner Binyamin Meisner was born to Ruth and Eric Meisner in El Salvador on 30 April 1964. His family immigrated to Israel when he was 3.5 and settled in Kiryat Tivon. In January 1983, Binyamin joined the IDF. On 24 February 1989, Binyamin fell while patrolling the Casbah in Shechem (Nablus) during reserve duty. Binyamin was survived by his parents; his brother, Raphael; and his sister, Tamar.
Yusef Abdel Hamid Irshaid		Mar-93		Murder, Attempted Murder		Nidal Rabo Ja'ab, Adnan Aj'ad Dib, Mofid Can'an, Tawfik Jaradat, Ibrahim Said
Mustafa Othman al-Haj		Jun-89		Murder		Friedrich Rosenfeld Steven Frederick Rosenfeld was born to Eugene and Ethel Rosenfeld in New York on 29 August 1941. He immigrated to Israel in 1968 and volunteered at Kibbutz Masada, where he was injured when a truck he was driving hit a landmine. Following rehabilitation, Frederick began working on archaeological digs in the Ein Bokek area, where he met his wife, Rachel. He was a Zionist with a great love the for the Land of Israel. On Saturday, 7 June 1989, Frederick went on a hike in the hills near Ariel, where he lived. He encountered a group of shepherds who stole a knife that he had in his possession, stabbed him to death, and hid his body on the side of the path. A different shepherd who was passing through the area found the body the next day. Frederick was 48 at the time of his death. He was survived by his wife and brother.
Salameh Abdallah Musleh		Oct-93		Murder		David Reuben
Atiyeh Salem Musa		Mar-94		Murder		Aizik Rotenberg (Holocaust survivor, 67) Isaac Rotenberg was born to Natan and Miriam Rotenberg in Poland on 15 March 1927. A selektzia was held in his city following the outbreak of the Second World War, and his family was sent to the Sobibór extermination camp. With the exception of him, his younger brother, and his sister, his entire family perished. He was taken with his brother to a labor camp. When a revolt broke out, the two succeeded in escaping the camp, but they lost track of each other in the ensuing commotion. Isaac then made his way to the forest and joined the partisans. In April 1947, Isaac reached the Land of Israel. He joined the IDF the next year, and fought in the War of Liberation in the north, near Kibbutz Manara. Isaac was married to Riva, and they had two children, Tzipora and Pinhas. He worked as a plasterer, and was a founder of the city of Holon. Upon reaching retirement age, he decided to continue working a few hours per day to keep himself busy. On 29 March 1994, during the Passover holiday, as Isaac was hunched on his knees, fixing a floor in his workplace in Petah Tikva, two of the Arab laborers on site attacked him and struck the back of his neck with axes. He was critically wounded, and entered a coma. Two days later, on 31 March, he died.
Salah Mahmoud Mukled		Jul-93		Murder, Attempted Murder		Joshua Deutsch
Mohamed Abdel Majid Sawalha		Dec-90		Murder, Attempted Murder		Baruch Heisler
Atef Izzat Sha’ath		Mar-93		Accessory to Murder		Simha Levi Simcha Levy was born to Jiran and Yosef in 1942, and immigrated to Israel in 1950. In 1992 Simcha moved to Midreshet Hadarom in Gush Katif, where she made a living providing transportation to local workers. Simcha was a small woman with a big spirit. She was a proud Jew who lived among the Arabs in order to make ends meet. She loved the people of Midreshet Hadarom among whom she lived. She was a helpful person and would discreetly provide assistance to those less fortunate; she would donate boxes of produce to needy Jewish and Arab families. On 12 March 1993, Simcha picked up a group of female agricultural workers in Khan Yunis. Among them were three male terrorists dressed as women. As the workers looked on, the three murdered Simcha in her vehicle with blows and stabs from a knife, then fled. The subsequent investigation revealed that many workers had received instructions not to come to work that day, so that there would be space for the terrorists. Simcha was 51 at the time of her death, and was survived by brothers and sisters. She was interred at Ofakim Cemetery.
Yusef Said al-Al		Feb-94		Throwing a bomb, Accessory to Murder		Ian Feinberg, Sami Ramadan
Midhat Fayez Barbakh		Jan-94		Murder		Moshe Becker, citrus grower
Ali Ibrahim al-Rai		Apr-94		Murder		Morris Eisenstadt
Mohamed Jaber Nashbat		Sep-90		Accessory to Murder		Amnon Pomerantz Amnon Pomeranz was born to Tzipora and Moshe Pomeranz on 15 August 1944. He was an electric engineer and scientist, and worked in research and development. Amnon was an original and creative thinker, theoretical and practical at once. During his time at Raphael he worked on missile and robotics development. For him, work was a challenge. He did not pursue honor, and did not compete for social standing. Amnon also was an outstanding athlete. On 20 September, Rosh Hashanah 1990, Amnon left his home in Havatzelet Hasharon for reserve duty in Gaza. Three hours later, he was brutally murdered by a horde of murderous rioters thirsty for Jewish blood when he made a wrong turn on the way to his base and accidentally entered Al Burj Refugee Camp. He was stoned and murdered, and his car set on fire. Amnon was 46 at the time of his death. He was survived by his wife and three children: Hofit, Snapir, and Gideon.
Samir Hussein Murtaji		Oct-93		Kidnapping, Manslaughter		Samir al-Silawi, Khaled Malaceh, Nasser Akilah, Ali al Zaabot
Hosni Faregh Sawalha		Dec-90		Murder, Attempted Murder		Baruch Heisler, 24 On 2 December 1990, Yaacov missed his ride to his yeshiva and instead boarded bus 66 from Petah Tikva to Tel Aviv. Three Arab terrorists boarded at the Pardes Katz stop, and immediately thereafter, at the junction of Ben Gurion Road and Jabotinsky Road in Ramat Gan, began stabbing passengers. Baruch Yaacov was murdered; three others were injured.
Faraj Saleh al-Rimahi		Jul-92		Murder		Abraham Kinstler, 84 Avraham Kinstler was born to Zissel and Rabbi Kalman Kinstler in Kańczuga, in Polish Galicia, on the eve of Shavuot, 4 June 1908. At the age of 20 he founded the town’s branch of Hovevei Zion, and in addition to his work there he taught his friends Hebrew. In 1935 he married Hannah, and the two immigrated to the Land of Israel, where they reared their daughters: Ada, Shlomit, and Batya. Avraham was an individualist and an original thinker, a multi-talented person, studious, as well as a Torah scholar. He was highly familiar with both general and Jewish culture, while especially treasuring Jewish thought and studying it to the last of his days, seeking to bring the world of Judaism to the young generation. Above all, though, Avraham was a working man. He believed in work, made it a value, and kept at it his entire life. On 7 July 1992, Avraham went to work as usual. There was a heavy dust storm that day, and the trees had to be watered. But he didn’t get to the point of turning on the water: a terrorist ambushed him and murdered him with an ax. The terrorist was caught several months later, brought to trial, and sentenced to life in prison.
Ala eddin Ahmed Abu Sitteh		Jan-94		Murder		David Daddi, 43  Haim Weitzman, 33 David Dadi was born to Shimon and Miha Dadi in Tunis on 1 September 1950. He immigrated to Israel as a child and settled in Ramla. David had a beautiful voice and loved to sing. He had a greatjoie de vivre and laughed and smiled much. He also loved to study Torah, and was a true scholar. Hayim Weizman was born to Annette and Hanania Weizman in Morocco on 4 July 1960. His family immigrated to Israel in 1962 and settled in Ramla. As an adult he married and had a son, Eliran. Hayim was a lively and happy person. He enjoyed bungy jumping and even won a championship in it. On 31 December 1993, David was stabbed to death along with his acquaintance Hayim Weizman in his apartment in Ramla: Arab workers from Gaza who were working in a neighboring apartment entered the apartment while they slept and killed them.
Ayman taleb Abu Sitteh		Jan-94		Murder		David Daddi, Haim Weitzman
Esmat Omar Mansour		Oct-93		Accessory to Murder		Haim Mizrachi Hayim Mizrahi was born to Mazal and Pinhas Mizrahi on 8 December 1963. He grew up in Bat Yam and Holon with his sisters, Margalit and Asnat, and his brother, Itzik. As a child, Hayim belonged to the junior league soccer team of Hapoel Tel Aviv. Following is army service, he became religious, moved to Beit El, and married Iris. On Friday, 29 October 1993, Hayim went to buy eggs from an Arab-owned farm near his home, as he was wont to do. He was greeted by terrorists who attacked him and fled in his vehicle after wounding him and stuffing him into the trunk. The terrorists proceeded to murder Hayim, then burned and abandoned the vehicle north of Ramallah. Hayim was 30 at the time of his death. He was put to rest in Holon Cemetery. Hayim was survived by his pregnant wife, his parents, his sisters, and his brother. Half-a-year after his murder, his daughter, Tehilla, was born.
Khaled Mohamed Asakreh		May-91		Murder		Annie Lee
Nihad Yusef Jundiyeh		Jul-89		Murder		Zalman Schlein
Mohamed Mahmoud Hamdiyeh		Jul-89		Murder		Zalman Schlein
Jamil Abdel Wahab Natsheh		Dec-92		Accessory to Murder		Shmuel Gersh
Taher Mohamed Zaboud		Feb-93		Murder		Abraham Cohen
Sabih Abed Hammed Borhan		Feb-01		Murder		Jamil Muhamad Naim Sabih, Aisha Abdullah Kharadin

I once made an infographic about what Israel gets back from "goodwill gestures."

Hebrew list here.

There are apparently 12 Arab victims, presumably Israeli Arabs, listed here. Since no reporter seems to bother asking the families of Jewish victims how they feel knowing that the murderers of their loved ones are being freed for no reason, I wonder whether anyone will ask the Arab families what they think about this deal.

(h/t Josh K)

UPDATE: Added victim details from Al Magor.

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Here's a prisoner that the US didn't want released

From the Washington Times (h/t My Right Word):

U.S. law enforcement officials expressed outrage over the release from prison of Mexican drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero and vowed to continue efforts to bring to justice the man who ordered the killing of a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent.'

Caro Quintero was sentenced to 40 years in prison for the 1985 kidnapping and killing of DEA agent Enrique Camarena but a Mexican federal court ordered his release this week saying he had been improperly tried in a federal court for state crimes.

The 60-year-old walked out of a prison in the western state of Jalisco early Friday after serving 28 years of his sentence.

The U.S. Department of Justice said it found the court’s decision “deeply troubling.”

“The Department of Justice, and especially the Drug Enforcement Administration, is extremely disappointed with this result,” it said in a statement.

The Association of Former Federal Narcotics Agents in the United States said it was “outraged” by Caro Quintero’s early release and it blamed corruption within Mexico’s justice system for his early release.

The reason I bring this up, of course, is that it is generally believed that the impending release of over 100 terrorists from Israeli prison in return for "peace talks" was pushed by the Obama administration and reluctantly accepted by the Israeli government to keep good relations with the US. Israel has released prisoners in lopsided swaps before, but never for literally nothing.

It is worth reading this article from Adi Moses, one of the victims of a murderer slated for release, and compare the depravity of freeing scores of similar terrorists against releasing a Mexican drug lord:

You know the story of my family. In 1987 a terrorist threw a firebomb at the car my family was traveling in. He murdered my mother and my brother Tal, and injured my father, my brother, his friend and myself. It is a story you know. But me, you do not really know. I was eight years old when this happened.

While my father was rolling me in the sand to extinguish my burning body, I looked in the direction of our car and watched as my mother burned in front of my eyes.

...In the room next door, my brother Tal is screaming in pain. I call out to him to count sheep with me so he can fall asleep. Three months later, little Tal dies of his wounds. I am seated, all bandaged up, on a chair in the cemetery and I watch as my little brother is buried.

...I am thirty-four years old but the last few days I have returned to being that eight-year-old facing that burning car and waiting for her mother to come out of it. Yitzhak Rabin, who was minister of defense at the time of the attack, promised my dad they would catch the terrorist. And they did. And they sentenced him. To two life sentences and another seventy-two years in prison. And you Cabinet ministers? With the wave of a hand you decided to free him – he who caused all of this story.

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