_a.jpg "צילום: ירון ברנר")
Majadele. Closely studying imprisonment conditions
Photo: Yaron Brener
Majadele hands out sweets to murderers
Culture minister visits jail on occasion of Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, convinces IPS to deliver food items to security prisoners. 'A prisoner is also a human being,' he says
Culture, Science and Sports Minister Raleb Majadele visited security prisoners at the Gilboa Prison several days ago on the occasion of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr and supplied them with sweets.
During the visit, Majadele met with security and criminal prisoners and closely examined their confinement conditions.
The Israeli minister's visit to a facility where security prisoners are jailed, including inmates who were involved in terror attacks against Jews, was an unusual event. It required the approval of Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter and the Israel Prison Service commissioner.
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Ahead of his arrival, the minister contacted the IPS authorities and convinced them to transfer packages containing sweets, coffee, dates, grapes and olive oil to the 800 prisoners.
According to the IPS website, most of the inmates at the Gilboa Prison are convicted terrorists with blood on their hands.
Some of them were sentenced to dozens of consecutive life terms for their involvement in terror activities which left hundreds of citizens and soldier dead. They belong to various factions of Palestinian terror organizations.
Majadele's office said in a statement, "From his first day at the Knesset, the minister has been visiting Israeli detention facilities on a regular basis in order to study their conditions closely.
"Every year, ahead of the holidays, the minister makes certain that the Arab prisoners who are Israeli citizens receive food items for the holiday, as he did in his latest visit.
"The minister has also instructed his office to work with the Israel Prison Service to help rehabilitate the prisoners through sport and culture-related activities."
Minister Majadele said in response, "A prisoner is also a human being, and we must do everything in order to lead him to the correct path and help him become reabsorbed in society."
