PA security source: Militants who lived up to deal with Israel pardoned
Israel says Fatah gunmen who complied with terms of amnesty deal allowed to move freely, conduct normal lives
A Palestinian security source told Ynet on Wednesday thatIsrael has informed the Authority that the militants would now be able to move about freely and conduct normal lives, this after the amnesty deal's three-month trial period came to an end.
In accordance with the original agreement, the militants were housed in special facilities for the duration of the trial period, signed a document in which they pledged to cease all involvement in terror activities and give up their weapons to the Authority.
Israel has also told the Authority that dozens of more Fatah gunmen would be pardoned if they lived up to the same conditions specified in the original deal.
The other militants on Israel's list of 178 wanted men will remain on probation until they fully comply with the terms of the amnesty agreement. Israel said some of the militants mentioned in the deal would not be pardoned and be added to the IDF's wanted list.
'Transfer coordinated with IDF'
Palestinian Authority officials said they hoped Israel would expand the list of militants who are eligible for full amnesty.
Meanwhile, a moment before the Annapolis summit, heightened security coordination between Israel and the Palestinian Authority is resurfacing. A group of wanted suspects, including very senior members of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade of Fatah, have been transferred from Nablus to Jericho, Palestinian sources told Ynet.
The group, responsible for attacks against Israelis, was transferred to PA command posts in coordination with the IDF. These are the most senior suspects who have been transferred in such a way since the start of the intifada, except those involved in the murder of Tourism Minister Rehavam Zeevi. The Ministry of Defense has yet to respond.
Among the wanted men transferred to Jericho were three of the most senior al-Aqsa Brigades members: One was identified as Nasser Abu-Aziz, whose home was raided by the IDF just this morning, and whose wife was taken into custody for a number of hours. The second was named as Muhammad Katawi, another senior wanted suspect. The two are residents of Nablus, and they were transferred with a third wanted suspect, Abd Abu Kishak. Kishak, a Fatah-affiliated commander.
A Palestinian security source told Ynet that the transfer of the group was coordinated with the IDF, which committed itself not to harm or arrest them.
