Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Photo: Cherie Cullen / WikiCommons.

JERUSALEM – There was unrest on Monday when Prime Minister Netanyahu began to speak during a state ceremony for victims of terror, as several terror victims in the crowd stood up holding red scarves representing bloody hands, while others shouted at Netanyahu, in protest of his release of Arab terrorists. The protesters were soon removed from the scene and calm was restored, allowing Netanyahu to continue with his speech.

Jacob Kimchy, whose father Ramy Kimchy, aged 57, was murdered in a suicide attack in 2002, was among the protesters. He explained to Tazpit News Agency why he joined the demonstration: “We felt compelled; we felt a responsibility to represent our fellow bereaved families by raising ‘red hands,’ which represent the release of terrorists by the Prime Minister, a move which should not have occurred. After many months of frustration this was an expression of emotions. Netanyahu stated that the release of terrorists is unjust – how does that make any sense?”

While Kimchy felt obligated to voice his protest, and said he knows Netanyahu witnessed it, he believes that the the Prime Minister’s policies won’t change: “Netanyahu heard the shouts and got the message, but I don’t believe he will change his policy. As far is I’m concerned, Netanyahu has lost the right to sit in the Prime Minister’s chair. I hope that next year the entire crowd well get up and walk out on him.”

Kimchy, who founded and heads the One Heart Foundation, which supports terror victims, told Tazpit that he was among those taken out of the hall by security guards.

Shai and Elad Oddeser, whose father and uncle were murdered by Arab terrorists in 2002, were also among the protesters. The killers were released as part of the Shalit deal a few years back. “I have tried to contact Netanyahu and meet with him on numerous occasions, but to no avail. This is the first time I was able to express myself to Netanyahu, in front of him. He has no right to say to us ‘I am with you.’ That’s a lie; he doesn’t understand our pain,” said Shai.

All three spoke about the painful transition for them from Israel’s Yom Hazikaron, Memorial Day, to the Yom Haatzmaut, Independence Day, celebrations. “I don’t celebrate,” shared Kimchy. “Yom Haatzmaut celebrations are something I did with my father, and so I don’t go out.” Shai goes out for his children: “Before I got married I did not go out. I go out for them; they don’t need to suffer because of me.”