Jailed (Illustration)
Photo: Reuters
Abdullah Jamal Barghouti. 67 life sentences
Photo courtesy of Channel 2
Hassan Salameh's mother with her son's photo
Photo: AFP
Israel names Palestinian prisoners refused release
Prime Minister's Office publishes list of 10 prisoners deemed perilous, denied release as part of prisoner exchange deal with Hamas meant to secure Gilad Shalit's return; also names 10 men slated to be released, expelled
Shin Bet Chief Yuval Diskin on Tuesday briefed the cabinet on the most perilous Palestinian prisoners Israel is willing to release and expel in order the secure the retrieval of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert convened the cabinet for a special session, in view of the latest impasse in the Cairo-brokered talks with Hamas.
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In an unusual move, the Prime Minister's Office decided to publish both lists, in order to allow the public to judge the potential risk latent in the prisoners' release.
'List a deal-breaker'
The list, said the bureau "illustrates just how far Israel is willing to go and how heavy a price it is willing to pay to secure Shalit's release, but is also Illustrates its red lines and its commitment to preventing severe damage to its security."
The 10 prisoners Israel is not willing to release are:
- Hassan Salameh – currently serving 38 consecutive life sentences for his involvement in a series of terror attacks which left dozens of Israelis dead and hundreds injured.
- Abdullah Jamal Barghouti – currently serving 67 consecutive life sentences for explosive manufacturing and his involvement in a series of terror attacks, which left 66 Israelis dead and 500 injured.
- Muhammad Hassan Ahmed Aramen – currently serving a life sentence for his involvement in a suicide bombing which resulted in multiple Israeli deaths.
- Ibrahim Hamed – currently serving a lengthy prison sentence for his involvement in terror attacks which left 82 Israeli dead and hundreds of others wounded.
- Abbas Sayad – a senior member of Hamas headquarters in West Bank city of Tulkarem, currently serving a lengthy prison sentence.
- Manhad Sarim – currently serving a lengthy prison sentence for his involvement in the 2002 terror attack on the Park Hotel in Netanya.
- Raed Hutri – a Hamas operative currently serving a lengthy prison sentence for recruiting terrorists and orchestrating a series of massive attacks on Israeli targets.
- Bahig Badar – currently serving 18 consecutive life sentences for his involvement in terror activities.
- Gamal Abu al-Hayja – currently serving a lengthy prison sentence for his involvement in terror activities.
- Muatt Bilal – currently serving a lengthy prison sentence for his involvement in terror activities.
Palestinian and Hamas sources who reviewed the list said that any of the men mentioned on it could be considered "a deal-breaker," citing Hassan Salameh – who still wields considerable influence within Hamas – as an example.
"There is no way for the deal to come together without Salameh," said a Palestinian source, noting that an alternative solution would be for Israel to agree to the men's release and expulsion from the West Bank.
Israel did, however, agree to release 10 of the controversial prisoners demanded by Hamas, on stipulation that they be expelled from the West Bank:
- Ata Latif Shakir – jailed for the 1985 murder of IDF soldier Akiva Shaltiel.
- Nasser Abdullah Nizal - head of Hamas headquarters in the West Bank city of Qalqilya, jailed for his involvement in a 2002 suicide attack on Ramat Gan's Bar Ilan Junction.
- Ziad Kilani – jailed for the 2001 attack on the Mei Ami Junction in northern Israel, which left one Israeli dead.
- Said Yusuf Badarna – jailed for his involvement in the 1994 Independence Day suicide attack in Hadera, just north of Tel Aviv, which left five Israelis dead.
- Muhammad Taher al-Karem – jailed for his involvement in a 2001 suicide attack in Haifa which left 15 Israelis dead.
- Walid Ajnes – currently serving 26 consecutive life sentences for his involvement in suicide attacks in Jerusalem and the central Israeli city of Rishon Lezion, which numbered 37 dead.
- Ibrahim Shamasna - jailed for his involvement in the murder of four Israelis.
- Iyad Shalalda – jailed for the 2002 murder Sasson Nuriel.
- Adris Rajbi – jailed for his involvement in a series of terror attacks which left 22 Israelis dead.
- Fadi Juabeh - currently serving 26 consecutive life sentences for his involvement in a 2003 suicide attacks in Haifa, which left 17 Israelis dead.
Palestinian source who review this list said that most of the name on in "were long gone from Palestinian consciousness."
Ali Waked contributed to this report
