Legislation that would prohibit the transfer of terrorist bodies to their families or organizations has been effectively vetoed by Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Israel Hayom has exclusively learned.
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The bill stipulates that people killed while or as a consequence of perpetrating terrorist acts will be buried at special cemeteries for terrorists rather than handed back. The bill also allows the prime minister to waive the provisions due to special circumstances.
Video: Yoav Gallant delivers a speech / Ariel Hermony, Defense Ministry
MK Eliyahu Revivo (Likud), who has sponsored the bill, has tried to have it come up for a vote in the Ministerial Committee on Legislation this coming Sunday so that it could advance to the Knesset floor for a preliminary reading on Wednesday. But in recent days Gallant, who had made it clear that he was vehemently opposed to its measures, had it removed from the forum's agenda, Israel Hayom has learned.
The draft enjoys broad support within the Coalition and even among some members of the Opposition. The previous Knesset saw a similar measure introduced by now-Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and his Religious Zionist Party faction. MK Zeev Elkin and Sharren Haskel from the State Party reintroduced it during the current Knesset despite being in the Opposition. Sources that are privy to the efforts to pass the new bill brought forward by Revivo say that Gallant has been telling colleagues in the Coalition that the measure is unlikely to achieve its goal and will only exacerbate tensions.
The bill's primary objective is to prevent the glorification of terrorists during their funerals, which could result in incitement to avenge their death and carry out copycat attacks.
The bill's preface states that "over the past several years we have witnessed a growing trend under which terrorist attacks are followed by praise, support, and encouragement for the act, the perpetrator, the organization he was affiliated with, and the ideology it espouses. This manifests itself primarily when the funerals are held for the attackers." It goes on to say that "on more than one occasion, banners, speeches and shouts [at those events] endorse the attack and call for more such acts." It notes that "this trend has the potential to pose a real danger to the public" and that is why bodies of terrorists are often withheld by the senior officials.
Gallant's office told Israel Hayom that "terrorists' remains are not something that affects terrorist groups in prisoner swap deals, except in rare cases involving Hamas attackers." It added that "for such cases we already have contingencies, and thus there is no need for a bill on this matter."
Revivo's office issued a statement on his behalf rejecting this. "My approach is that such a step is needed. However, as a team player, I am fully aware that without the backing of the defense minister, such a bill has no chance of advancing. That is why I agreed to have it taken off the legislative agenda."
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