PLO Commission of Prisoners’ Affairs: 6,000 Palestinian prisoners are in Israeli prisons, 1,000 prisoners have served over 15 years
Headline: “1,000 Palestinian prisoners have served 15 or more years in [Israeli] prisons”
“Head of [PLO] Commission of Prisoners’ Affairs Issa Karake stated that there are 1,000 Palestinian prisoners who have served over 15 years in the occupation’s prisons, among them 30 prisoners who have served more than 20 years. The most veteran prisoners are Karim Younes and Maher Younes, and the female prisoner Lina Al-Jarbouni, and the total number of prisoners is 6,000. Karake emphasized in a statement yesterday [Aug. 26, 2015] that any return to negotiations or political arrangements must be dependent on the release of thousands of prisoners from the prisons, especially those who have served over 15 years in prison, and the Palestinian leaders, headed by [PA Parliament Member] Marwan Barghouti, [former head of PFLP] Ahmad Sa’adat, [senior PA official Fuad] Al-Shubaki, in addition to the sick [prisoners] who are in very serious condition.
He said that President Mahmoud Abbas stopped the negotiation process because of Israel’s non-commitment to the release of the prisoners, and because the Palestinian position is based on the release of thousands of prisoners, and not just the fourth stage. (See below.) This is especially so in light of previous commitments regarding this matter which were not carried out by the Netanyahu government. Karake called on the US not to release Israeli spy [Jonathan] Pollard, unless [Israel] releases thousands of Palestinian prisoners, if it [the US] wants to be an unchallenged and impartial factor in any future political arrangement regarding the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.”
Notes: Karim Younes - an Israeli Arab was sentenced to life in prison for kidnapping and killing an Israeli soldier in 1980. Israeli President Shimon Peres reduced his sentence in 2012 to 40 years.
Maher Younes - an Israeli Arab serving a 40-year sentence for kidnapping and killing an Israeli soldier in 1980. Originally sentenced to life in prison, but Israeli President Shimon Peres reduced his sentence in 2012.
Lina Al-Jarbouni is an Israeli Arab woman serving a sentence of 17 years, convicted March 9, 2004 of maintaining contact with and helping Islamic Jihad terrorists, of conspiring to commit terrorist attacks and of aiding an enemy during war.
Marwan Barghouti - serving five life sentences for orchestrating terror attacks against Israeli civilians. When arrested in 2002, he headed Fatah's military wing, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades. After he was convicted and imprisoned, he was re-elected member of the Palestinian Authority parliament.
Ahmad Sa’adat, serving a 30-year sentence for heading the PFLP terror organization. Song at PFLP event also praised him for planning the assassination of Israeli Minister of Tourism Rehavam Ze'evi in 2001, but he has not been tried for this crime.
Fuad Al-Shubaki - a senior PA official who is serving a 20-year prison term. He was behind the attempt to smuggle 50 tons of illegal weapons into the Palestinian Authority in 2002 aboard the Karin-A weapons’ ship.
The fourth stage - In August 2013, Israel agreed to release 104 Palestinian terrorists from prison, which was the PA's precondition for renewing peace talks. The terrorists were released in stages. The first group of 26 was released on Aug. 13, 2013. The second group of 26 was released on Oct. 30, 2013. The third group of 26 was released on Dec. 30, 2013. The fourth group was scheduled to be released on March 29, 2014, but Israel delayed their release while negotiating the terms for continuation of the peace talks. When the PA submitted requests for admission as a state to several international bodies, Israel cancelled the release.