See Editorial - "Don't Beg our Pardon"

You were appointed to take part in a committee who has to aid the president make a decision whether or not to accept Yitzhak Modai`s proposal for a "broad pardon" , as part of the nation`s 50th anniversary celebrations.

I would like to provide you with some information regarding this issue:

• This idea has been implemented twice in Israel`s history; in 1949 and 1967.
• The pardon in 1967 was limited to those serving sentences of less than 10 years.
• The outcome was an immediate increase in crime.
• After the 1967 pardon, studies showed that within five years, 77% of the pardoned criminals had committed another crime.
• Since then, the idea has been rejected three other times: On Israel`s 30th anniversary, after the signing of the peace treaty with Egypt, and on the 15th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem.

Points to be taken into consideration:

1. Should anniversaries be celebrated by releasing criminals?
2. What does the message of a general pardon convey to criminals?
3. Is there anything wrong with someone who has served two years of a three- year-sentence going free a bit early?
4. Does or doesn`t a pardon contribute to national reconciliation?
5. Some people think that if politicians really wish to give the nation a gift on the eve of the 50th anniversary, it would be to bury the idea of general pardons once and for all and thus protect the public rather than shorten the distance between a criminal and a victim.

There are four people in the committee:

1. One member who believes the nation will benefit from the pardon.
2. A citizen who is appalled by the idea.
3. An ex-prisoner who served only part of his sentence thanks to the pardon received in 1967, and has never committed crimes since then. He supports the idea.
4. Ezer Weizman , who is the one to make the decision.

GOOD LUCK!!!

You have to submit a detailed document with the reasons for your decision.!