Eighteen of the imprisoned Palestinian politicians may be released Today

The kidnapped Cabinet (MaanImages)

September 12, 2006

Bethlehem - Ma'an - The Israeli military court at Ofer intends to release 18 of the imprisoned Palestinian politicians on Tuesday, the undersecretary for the prisoners' affairs ministry, Mr. Ziad Abu Ain, told Ma'an.

According to Israeli radio, the politicians to be released will include Dr. Abdul Aziz Adwaik, the Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC); Issa Al-Ja'abari, the Minister of Local Governance; Khalid Abu Arafa, the Minister of Jerusalem Affairs; and Sheikh Nayef Rajoub, the Minister of Waqf and Religious Affairs.

The Israeli radio station 'Voice of Israel' reported that the judge at Ofer military court refused to extend the detention of the Palestinian officials despite appeals by the Israeli attorney general to keep the officials detained until the legal measures against them are completed.

The court decided to release the officials for a fine of NIS 25,000 (US $5,700) each and gave the prosecution, the Israeli attorney general, 48 hours to appeal against this decision.

Earlier, Mr. Ziad Abu Ain told Ma'an that the judge at Ofer military court had informed the lawyers defending the kidnapped Palestinian officials that they intend to release 18 of them on Tuesday. Abu Ain said that he expects some developments which may change this fact, but he expressed his hope that all the officials will be released.

The Arab member of the Israeli Knesset, Talab El Sana, who is one of the lawyers defending the Palestinian parliamentary officials, expected that the court might accept the lawyers' point of view that the seizure of the officials is a political issue, not a legal one.

El Sana told Ma'an that "I expect the Israeli court to accept the point of view of the lawyers and to release them".

El Sana clarified that he decided to join the lawyers' team as he believes that the court is a political issue and that the arrest is illegal. He said, "It is the duty of parliamentary members in the world to show solidarity wit the Palestinian Legislative Council members and to reject the Israeli arrogance and the policy of power and punishment".

El Sana accused Israel of "seizing the officials due to the refusal of the Hamas government to recognize Israel and also due to the capture of the Israeli soldier in Gaza in order to exchange him for them". He ended, "this is not the act of sovereign state".

The 18 officials were kidnapped in a major Israeli swoop on the West Bank at the end of June following the capture of the Israeli soldier, Cpl Shalit, by armed Palestinians on the edge of the Gaza Strip. Seven cabinet ministers were seized in this operation and the deputy prime minister, Dr. Nasser Ash-Sha'er, was taken prisoner on 19 August. If the above mentioned officials are released, the minister of finance and the minister of planning will be the remaining jailed ministers.

Update:

Israeli prosecution revokes decision to release 18 of the detained Palestinian politicians today as planned