Palestinians: Israel pardoned 78 wanted suspects
Palestinian sources report 22 al-Aqsa members given full amnesty, while 40 were put on probation; claim Israel said other 16 were not wanted at all. Jerusalem declines comment
Israel has granted amnesty to 78 wanted members of Fatah's armed wing, the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, Palestinian sources said Tuesday.
According to the report, 22 of the suspects received clemency and another 40 have been put on a probation period. Regarding the other 16 Israel has announced that they were not wanted at all.
Israeli officials declined to comment on the report.
The suspects' release follows the amnesty deal signed between Israel and the Palestinian Authority in 2007.
According to the Palestinians, most of the pardoned suspects would be able to move freely; another small group would be restricted to movement within the A territories, under Palestinian control, alone; and a third group – of prisoners who were not initially included in the deal – would be put on three-month probation.
At the end of 2007 Israel and the PA agreed that Israel would begin granting amnesties to al-Aqsa members in exchange for their commitment to hand out their weapons to the PA and refrain from engaging in armed activity.
The deal initially included 300 people. Since then dozens more Palestinians have been given amnesty, while others were freed under restrictions. In December 2008 Israel gave full and partial clemency to 45 wanted al-Aqsa suspects as a gesture to Fatah ahead of Eid al-Adha.
