Shalit Release Deal Expected To Pass
Hours following initial reports of a deal to secure the release of abducted Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet is expected Tuesday to easily pass the prisoner swap with Hamas.
Among expected objectors to the deal are Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and National Infrastructure Minister Uzi Landau.
According to the agreement framework presented by Shin Bet chief Yoram Cohen, the deal Netanyahu has brought before the cabinet will include, at first, the release of 450 Palestinian prisoners, including 280 with life sentences.
110 prisoners will be released to their homes in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, out of whom 55 Hamas men, with the rest belonging to Fatah and the other Palestinian groups.
According to the deal, 131 Gaza residents will be released back to the coastal Strip, many of whom are reportedly top Hamas operatives. Another 203 prisoners will be expelled from the West Bank, 40 of whom will be deported overseas and the rest to Gaza.
In addition, 6 Israeli Arab prisoners who have been serving for many years will also be released to their homes. The deal also specifies the release of 27 female inmates: terrorists Ahlam Tamimi and Amna Muna will be deported, with the rest of the female inmates expected to be released to their homes.
The second wave of releases will take place in two-months time, at which point Israel will release 550 prisoners of its choosing.
In a briefing with reports, the Shin Bet chief indicated that senior Hamas West Bank operatives the militant group demanded be set free – such as Abdullah Barghouti, Ibrahim Hamed, Abbas Sayed, and others – will not be released from jail.
Ahmed Saadat, secretary-general of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, will also remain in prison, as well as Fatah strongman Marwan Barghouti.
The Shin Bet chief also indicated that Israel gave no guarantees as to whether or not it would harm those prisoners the deal releases. However, about half of those released to the West Bank will live under restrictions that include prohibiting them from exiting the West Bank and, in some cases, the towns in which they live.
Cohen added that the Shin Bet supported the newly signed deal since releasing Shalit by means of military operation was deemed impossible.
For more, go to Haaretz.com
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