Prisoners release (Archive photo)
Photo: AFP
Palestinians slam Israel's 'revolving door policy' on prisoners
Human rights center says Israel detaining far more Palestinians than it is releasing; 1,751 since beginning of year
Officials in the Palestinian Authority do not appear overly enthused by the Israeli cabinet's recent decision to release 199 prisoners, including detainees with 'blood on their hands', as a gesture to President Mahmoud Abbas.
Petah Tikva Terror Attack
Philharmonic violinist Zinovi Kaplan's mother was killed during a terror attack in Petah Tikva 30 years ago; on Sunday he learned PFLP figure behind attack to be released along with dozens of other prisoners as gesture to Abbas. 'Those who elected such a government shouldn't be surprised that terrorists are being freed,' he says
According to data provided by the Palestinian Center for Human Rights, the IDF has arrested 1,751 Palestinians in the West Bank since the beginning of the year, including 500 who have been detained since last month's Mediterranean summit in Paris, during which Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert pledged to free more prisoners.
Palestinian Legislative Council member Mustafa Barghouti said that since the Annapolis peace conference in late November, Israel has released 788 Palestinians, but detained more than 3,700 others, among them 30 teenagers.
The data show that nearly 11,000 Palestinian remain imprisoned in Israel, including 110 women and dozens of teens.
On Monday the Israeli Prison Service published the full list of 199 prisoners slated for release. The list includes some murderers and collaborators, as well as Palestinians who attempted to carry out terror attacks and murders.
