Arab prisoners want in on Shalit deal

Arab-Israelis held for security crimes ask Hamas to include them in prisoner swap for captive soldier

Sharon Roffe-Ofir

Published: 03.15.09, 17:57 / Israel News

Arab-Israeli prisoners serving time in Israeli prisons for security-related offenses are demanding that Hamas include them in the list of prisoners to be released in exchange for kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit.

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Secretary of the Village Sons movement Mohammad Kanaaneh, who has served time in an Israeli prison for a security-related offense, hopes his brother will be released as part of the deal. Majad Kanaaneh has so far served five years of his sentence.

"I appeal to Khaled Mashaal, who is the one deciding on this issue," he told Ynet. "A large part of these prisoners were sent by Palestinian organizations. Make sure, with all seriousness and responsibility, that our sons return home."

Kanaaneh added, "The families of the Palestinian prisoners living in Israel also want to hug their sons. Enough with the suffering of families, make sure our sons are released in the coming deal."

Other prisoners' family members also spoke out. "We don't know who the prisoners on the list are, but we hope we have not been forgotten," said the mother of prisoner Makhlis Bargal.

"These prisoners have mothers waiting at home, only we fall between the cracks – our government deprives us of our rights and doesn't care for us, and Hamas also doesn't care for the boys. I say to both sides, if you have compassion, they should be treated like everyone else."

There are currently 140 Arab-Israeli prisoners being held in jails throughout the country for security-related crimes. One third acted for the benefit of Hamas and the rest on behalf of other organizations. A number of these prisoners have been held for over 20 years.

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