Ministry of Prisoners' Affairs now part of PLO, in ploy to shield PA from donor pressure about prisoners' salaries

     "In its meeting yesterday [Sept. 2, 2014], the [PA] government appointed former [PA] Minister of Prisoners' Affairs Issa Karake head of the Commission of Prisoners' Affairs, and revoked Minister Shawqi Issa's appointment to this position... (When the Fatah-Hamas unity government was formed in June 2014, Shawqi Issa became Minister of Prisoners' Affairs instead of Issa Karake -Ed.)
[Subheadline] Karake Appointed Head of [Commission] for Prisoners' Affairs:
The government has approved the revoking of its decision to appoint Minister Shawqi Issa supervisor of the Ministry of Prisoners' and Released Prisoners' Affairs, based on the presidential decree published on the matter, which states that it [the Ministry] is to be transformed from a ministry subordinate to the Palestinian government into a Supreme National Commission of Prisoners' and Released Prisoners' Affairs, subordinate to the PLO and supervised by it and by the Palestinian presidency. The decree also states that Issa Karake, the former Minister of Prisoners' and Released Prisoners' Affairs, is to be appointed head of this commission."
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Note: In an interview on Ajyal radio (independent Palestinian radio station), Karake confirmed that the PA Ministry of Prisoners Affairs was transformed into the Supreme National Commission of Prisoners' Affairs, subordinate to the PLO, in an attempt to deflect international pressure on the PA on the issue of Palestinian terrorist prisoners who receive PA salaries. To view the interview, click here.