By Tzvi Lev/TPS
Jerusalem (TPS) – Shurat Hadin has sent United States Vice President Joe Biden a letter ahead of his upcoming visit to Turkey urging him to press for the extradition of Saleh Al-Arouri to the United States for his role in killing two US citizens.
Shurat Hadin, or the Israel Law Center, is a legal organization dedicated to helping terror victims. The letter is the latest in a series of moves Shurat Hadin has taken against Turkey for its protection of Al-Arouri. Shurat Hadin voraciously opposed the reconciliation deal between Israel and Turkey and petitioned the High Court of Justice in July in a failed effort to halt the deal until Turkey ceased sheltering Al-Arouri.
Shurat Hadin filed a petition “on behalf of the families of American terror victims Naftali Fraenkel and Eitam Henkin” with the demand “that the US government use its upcoming meeting with Turkish officials to raise the issue of Al-Arouri’s presence in Turkey and to seek the extradition of Saleh Al-Arouri from Turkey to the United States for his heinous crimes.”
Saleh Al-Arouri is a founding member of the Hamas military wing and is thought to be the mastermind of the abduction and murder of Naftali Fraenkel, Gilad Shaer, and Eyal Ifrach in 2014 as well as the 2015 killing of Eitam and Naama Henkin, who were gunned down while driving near the community of Elon Moreh in Samaria. Al-Arouri is currently residing in Turkey after fleeing Damascus in 2012.
“Turkey is obligated under the Treaty On Extradition and Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters to grant extradition of requested individuals to the United States if the suspect committed a criminal act that would be punishable had the crime been committed within Turkish jurisdiction,” said Shurat Hadin in a statement. “The kidnapping and murder of US citizen Naftali Fraenkel and the murder of US citizen Rabbi Eitam Henkin clearly fulfill this requirement.”
Vice President Biden is to lead a Justice Department delegation to Turkey that is scheduled to land in Ankara on Wednesday. The delegation is expected to discuss Turkey’s demand to extradite Fethullah Gulen to Turkey as Turkey has accused the 75-year-old cleric of masterminding the July coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, a charge which Gulen denies.