Wanted suspects handed over their weapons
Photo: AP
Palestinian sources: Israel pardons 36 wanted suspects
Palestinian suspects included in previous deal between Israel and PA granted full pardon that would enable them to travel freely; more Palestinians expected to receive full amnesty next week
Israel granted a full pardon to 36 wanted Palestinians who are members of the Fatah's al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, Palestinian sources said Tuesday.
The Palestinians were also told that next week they will receive a list of dozens of other suspects who will be granted a full pardon.
The Palestinians say that in the wake of a security meeting held between the sides Monday, Israel agreed to grant the suspects a full pardon that would allow them to travel freely. The suspects received the full pardon after they honored the previous agreement between Israel and the PA and refrained from involvement in terror activity.
Agreement
Ali Waked
Palestinian official tells Ynet Israel agrees to let up on 178 Fatah gunmen wanted for terror activities in the framework of an agreement aimed at bolstering President Mahmoud Abbas after his faction's defeat by Hamas in Gaza
In July 2007, Ynet was the first to report the agreement between Israel and the Palestinians that saw 240 members of the al-Aqsa Brigades embark on a three-month probation period, ahead of a final decision on a pardon.
Palestinians satisfied
Following the initial three-month period, Israel announced that it wishes to extend the probation period by another three months. At the end of January, Israel said that 32 suspects will be granted a full amnesty and can travel freely.The Palestinians expressed their satisfaction over the progress in talks on more pardons and said Israel informed them that the vast majority of wanted suspects remained committed to the agreement. Israel will be granting a full pardon gradually to all the wanted Palestinians, with the exception of those who violate the agreement's terms and continue to engage in terror activity, Israel reportedly said.
However, a Palestinian security official told Ynet that one obstacle still remains en route to formulating a new agreement on the issue. Israel demands that those who are not granted a full pardon and whose name is not included in the next list will be transferred to PA facilities in Jericho. Many of the wanted Palestinians do not agree to this condition, the official said, and noted that insistence on this point could lead to the collapse of the agreement.
