"My Uncle Was Murdered in a Heinous Crime, the Terrorists Can't Be Released and Welcomed with Celebrations"

"I don't think there's anyone who saw the documentation of the massive celebrations in the village of 'Ara marking the release of the 'Chief of Staff of the Security Prisoners' from prison after forty years and didn't feel immense pain," says Avi Bromberg, his voice full of great anger.

If Avi's name sounds familiar to you, that's no coincidence. He is indeed the nephew of Corporal Avi Bromberg from Zikhron Ya'akov, who was abducted in 1980 by terrorists who took his personal weapon and murdered him with it in an especially brutal killing that shocked the foundations of the State of Israel.

The murder occurred while Bromberg, who was then a soldier, was making his way home in the Zikhron Ya'akov colony and took a hitchhike ride from a car that stopped for him at the station. Just minutes after getting the ride, he was attacked by the driver and an additional terrorist hiding in the back seat. Initially, he tried to fight back, but the terrorists shot him and threw him out of the car. Bromberg managed to crawl to the road and inform the Israel Electric Corporation workers who were there about what happened and even gave them his details. From there, he was evacuated to the hospital with a severe head injury, and four days later, he succumbed to his wounds.

The soldier Avi Bromberg

The Sentence Was Reduced, Prisoners Released

Avi Bromberg's nephew, whom we are speaking with, was born a year after the murder, exactly on the anniversary of the heinous murder, while the murderers had not yet been caught. Only a year later (two years after the murder) the murderers were revealed – Karim Younis and his cousin Maher Younis, and it turned out they were two Arab-Israeli residents of Wadi 'Ara. "They were caught at a joyous event in the village, where they were apprehended shooting the weapon they stole from my uncle," Bromberg notes the shocking absurdity. "Afterwards, they were sentenced to death by a military court but were saved through an appeal submitted to a civilian court, receiving life sentences that were not limited. However, in 2012 things changed when President Shimon Peres reduced their sentences to 40 years, and now – 40 years after the verdict, they are released from prison, returning to the village with large celebrations."

Bromberg points out that to this day, neither he nor his family understands what led Peres to reduce the sentences of the terrorists. "Reducing a sentence is an action only the president is authorized to take, and before Peres assumed the role, no one agreed to sign a pardon or reduce the sentence. Peres reduced not only the sentences of the two terrorists who murdered my uncle, but also those of Moshe Tamam's murderers and Corporal Guy Friedman from the Kishon night, may their memories be blessed. He reduced many more murderers who committed shocking terror incidents, some of whom are Arab Israelis with blue identity cards. This means that after their release, they return to being Israeli citizens with full rights. It's shocking, inconceivable."

As mentioned, those who saw the documented videos of the celebrations welcoming terrorist Karim Younis last week can understand the outcrying absurdity. Despite the announcement by the Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir that he would not allow celebrations for the release of a "vile terrorist," Younis was received in his village, 'Ara, with celebrations during which he was carried on shoulders amidst songs and dances. During the event, he declared further intentions to continue terror activities. "I and all the other prisoners are ready to sacrifice even more for Palestine and its freedom," he proclaimed.

A Test for the Government

"It is important for me to emphasize that Karim was considered all these years the 'Chief of Staff of the Security Prisoners'," adds Bromberg, "All the different security bodies – the army, the prison service, as well as the Shin Bet vehemently opposed his release. It's clear to everyone that this is a very problematic release by the State of Israel, because even when he was within the prison walls, he had a significant influence on terror activities outside of prison. It is now clear that he will undoubtedly only strengthen terror along the Wadi 'Ara route – the heart of the State of Israel. Terrorists holding a blue identity card in one hand and a weapon against the state in the other are state traitors. The same goes for the other terrorist, Maher Younis, who is also expected to be released in a few days.

"I was born into the story of my uncle, and it accompanies me my whole life," Bromberg notes, "but I'm not speaking from my personal pain now, but as an Israeli citizen who is in pain. I can also speak of our struggle – from the moment the president reduced the sentences of the terrorist murderers to 40 years, we knew they were set to be released in 2023. Throughout the years since, we focused on the mission to change the sentence reduction and ensure that they remain in prison for their entire lives. I must mention that in part of the actions, we were successful, because every few months requests would arise again and again for release on leaves due to good behavior or other excuses, and each time the state's prosecutors and other shadows would prevent this release along with us. Now the moment of release has come without us being able to prevent it, and I believe there isn't an Israeli citizen who saw the documentation of the celebrations in the village without feeling immense pain. It's horrifying, it's terrible, it is not something I would expect to see in the State of Israel, and it's also the first thing that increases lack of deterrence, because terrorists see they can murder, be released from prison, and return to being Israeli citizens."

Avi Bromberg the nephew

Is there anything more that can be done now?

"Yes, definitely. This week, for the first time, a preliminary discussion took place on a law to revoke citizenship for murderers, fully supported by both the opposition and coalition, except for two opposing Arab members of the Knesset. Our hope is that immediately after the law is passed, the state will revoke the citizenship of the terrorists who murdered my uncle, and subsequently deport them to Gaza or the Palestinian Authority. It is unacceptable for terrorist Karim to be in his village now, after building a house with the huge sums he received monthly from the Palestinian Authority, essentially winning a new life and returning to being a free citizen. This is unacceptable.

"What happened in our private family cannot be changed, but we want to prevent additional bereaved families, and furthermore – it is crucial that the Wadi 'Ara route, a horrifying terror route in the State of Israel, from which attacks are carried out one after another, does not reignite. Just last year, a horrific ISIS attack emanated from there at the Dizengoff Center. When terrorists with blood on their hands are returned there, especially those like Younis who have already proclaimed they will continue attacking, it is a real threat to the state's security.

"The only answer here should be to legislate a clear law revoking the citizenship of released terrorists, which would also ensure justice for the families as well as the citizens. I hope that this will happen soon, we are working towards it and this week received guarantees from Ben-Gvir and Gallant. This issue mustn't disappear from the headlines. It should trouble everyone. A right-wing government has now risen, and this is its test stage. I am confident it will not want to fail it."