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Prisoners being escorted out of jail
Photo: Dalit Shaham
Visitors cheering prisoners on
Photo: Dalit Shaham

Jordanian murderers leave Israeli jail

Terrorists sentenced to life for murder of two IDF soldiers in 1990 released from Hadarim Prison to continue serving sentence in Hashemite Kingdom

Four Jordanian prisoners who murdered two IDF soldiers in 1990 left the Hadarim Prison Thursday morning for Shiekh Hussein Bridge, where they were to be transferred to Jordanian authorities.

 

The four were sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Captain Yehuda Lifshitz and Staff-Sergeant Pinchas Levi in two different incidents in November 1990.

 

The prisoners were escorted out of the prison with their hands and legs chained, and transferred to the prison vehicle under heavy supervision.

 

The release of the four prisoners drew much attention among other security prisoners, and their visiting relatives, some of whom were seen making victory gestures with their hands.

 

Sufian Akesh, father of a prisoner who was sentenced to seven years for security offences, said, "We share in the joy of the four Jordanian prisoners who are being released today, and hope that our children will finally get out of jail, as these four were released today."

 

The decision to release the prisoners came following a request from the Hashemite royal family.

 

On Wednesday, the High Court rejected a petition protesting the transfer of the four Jordanian prisoners from Israel to Jordan. The appeal against the transfer was filed by the Almagor organization - which represents families of victims of terror attacks - and by Sarah Levy, the mother of one of the deceased soldiers.

 

Advocates for the petitioners said there was a chance that the four, who are serving life sentences, would be pardoned as early as a year and a half from now, if transferred to Jordan.

 

An Israeli official said Israel had received assurance from Jordan that the prisoners would serve at least 18 more months in prison after the transfer. However, there has been no additional legal commitment.

 

The High Court judges, led by Miriam Naor, explained that they had chosen not to get involved in what they considered a political decision, adding that such an action by the government was not aberrant.

 


פרסום ראשון: 07.05.07, 10:35
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