Picture by Pamhule
This legislation, which calls for harsher treatment of Hamas terrorist prisoners was sparked by the unequal living conditions of Gilad Shalit and Hamas prisoners, has just been confirmed by the Knesset. Danny Danon wanted to put pressure on Palestinian forces by worsening the living conditions of Hamas prisoners, so hopefully, Gilad Shalit’s kidnappers will want to proceed with talks about his safe release. Read more…
Ministerial committee approves ‘Shalit law’
Almost year after removing it from government’s agenda, Prime Minister Netanyahu decides to advance law toughening conditions of Hamas prisoners.
The Ministerial Committee on Legislative Affairs on Sunday approved a bill aimed at aggravating the conditions of Hamas prisoners jailed in Israel in a bid to pressure the Palestinian organization to advance the talks for kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit’s release.
Ynet reported several weeks ago that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu removed his objection to the bill, after working to postpone a discussion on the proposal last summer in light of security element’s objection.
The bill will now be brought to the Knesset for a preliminary reading with the coalition’s support. The exact changes in the prisoners’ conditions will be determined later on.
The bill, initiated by Knesset Members Danny Danon and Yariv Levin (Likud), addresses prisoners that were convicted for being members in a terrorist organization “that holds an Israeli citizen or resident in conditions of imprisonment, without allowing him to receive visitors.”
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By: Elana R. Roth
NETANYA, Israel A life-size poster of Gilad Shalit’s body is picketed on the top of an army tank replica parked outside Hadrim Prison. The picture was taken from the most recent blurry video image Hamas sent Israel months ago. This poster stands juxtaposed next to a flag of Shalit before he was capture by Hamas in 2006, making Shalit look almost unrecognizable with his now emaciated and colorless body still wearing his Israeli army uniform. Yet, this image is the only contact, and more importantly, proof of life, that terrorists of Hamas have granted Shalit’s parents since his abduction.
To the Israeli protesters standing in outside the prison, Shalit is only one reminder of the vast inequality in the treatment of Israeli prisoners compared to Palestinian prisoners. Just yards away inside the Hadrim Prison, Arab prisoners have full visitation rights of their family members who often choose to visit the prison on a regular basis. Family visitation rights are an extra bonus granted by Israel that exceeds the mandatory U.N. visitation laws. According to the U.N., prisoners are only required to have a once a week visitation by a lawyer and a Red Cross representative. Shalit receives neither.
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“We are not speaking to you in English or European languaes. We are speaking to you in the language you understand,” MK Danny Danon warned Hamas Wednesday. Danon joined a protest outside the Hadarim jail, where terrorists are held. He has introduced legislation that would curtail the visitation rights of the prisoners until abducted soldier Gilad Shalit is freed. Danon said he does not fear the possibility that Arab prisoners will riot.
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