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Gaza families don't know who Israel will free for Shalit By Amira Hass Tags: gilad shalit, Amira Hass  Click here for more articles by Amira Hass GAZA - Some 750 local families with relatives in Israeli prisons are hanging on every word from the media regarding a prisoner-exchange deal that may be sealed within days, if not hours. Some 130 Gazan families with members serving life sentences are particularly tense, not knowing whether they are included in the deal. Advertisement Abdel Nasser Farauna, of the Palestinian Ministry for Prisoner Affairs in Ramallah, said it was still difficult to tell which and how many prisoners will be released in exchange for captive soldier Gilad Shalit, but he speculated the number is likely to be high. Negotiators for Hamas were careful not to leak many details of the list of prisoners they are demanding. Farauna, himself a former prisoner in Israel, said he thinks the broader Palestinian public is less interested in the deal's details - an impression shared by A., a former political prisoner. "The public isn't interested because it knows the deal will happen sooner or later, and it's too preoccupied with the hardships of recovering from Israel's attack," A. said. High expectations However, there are expectations the Shalit deal will signal progress in other issues, like opening the Gaza Strip borders to movement of people and goods, and the internal Palestinian reconciliation talks. Farauna said that some 130 Gazan prisoners were jailed before 1994 - i.e., before the signing of the Oslo Accords. The total number of Palestinians imprisoned before 1994 is 335, including 65 Jerusalemites and Israeli citizens. Their imprisonment is considered by the Palestinian public to be one of the great failures of Fatah and the PLO. There was an expectation that the accords would stipulate release of all the prisoners, particularly as a majority belonged to Fatah, a signatory to the document. Prisoners convicted of murdering Palestinians were released, but peers convicted of killing Jews, either civilian or soldiers, became part of a separate category which Israel refused to free. The release of these prisoners via Hamas efforts would score the movement a winning point at the expense of Fatah. Some 20 prisoners have been in jail for over 20 years. All 750 prisoners have not been allowed any family visits since June 2007, when Hamas took control of the security apparatus in the Strip. Israel barred all family visits to Gazan prisoners, despite protests by the Red Cross. Security prisoners, unlike jailed Palestinian and Israeli criminals, are also denied the right to contact their families by phone. Related articles: Olmert postpones special cabinet session on Shalit Teens to Olmert: Enlisting in IDF tougher with Shalit in captivity Gilad's father to Hamas: The best offer you'll get Bookmark to del.icio.us   Iran presidential vote Ahmadinejad slams rivals for wanting 'detente' with the West. Demographic threat Study finds one in four Israelis would consider leaving country if Iran gets nukes.   1.   "A., a former political prisoner..." 05:31  |  Fortuna Benmayor 16/03/09   2.   Israel Must Arrest Them Again 08:22  |  Claire 16/03/09   3.   Just get Gilad home NOW!!!!!!!! 17:44  |  Mel (M) 16/03/09   4.   Let Arab terrorist rot in prison 20:18  |  Baruch Gold 16/03/09   5.   prisoners 23:05  |  about reality 17/03/09   6.   greg3338 04:53  |  Gregory Mendelson 18/03/09   7.   Terrorists List 09:58  |  Miron 18/03/09   8.   FREE ALL THE PRISONERS 18:06  |  Gili 18/03/09

Read & React Report: Hezbollah sources deny group killed Hariri Responses: 16 'Israel won't yield to U.S. demands, won't halt settlement construction' Responses: 32 Hamas claiming IDF troops were 'cowards' during Gaza war Responses: 14 Gideon Levy: Only settlers are taking Obama seriously in Israel Responses: 19 More Headlines 13:45 Barak: Israel to remove 22 illegal settlement outposts 12:49 Israel: Arrest Hezbollah chief over Hariri assassination 07:22 ANALYSIS / How will 'revelation' on Hariri impact Lebanon vote? 10:55 Court: No crime to shout 'Heil Sharon' while giving Nazi salute 12:25 WHO: Life expectancy in Israel among highest in the world 09:48 Hamas claiming IDF troops were 'cowards' during Gaza war 11:40 Arabs like Obama but are still suspicious of U.S. 20:58 WATCH: Daily news round-up from Israel 10:28 U.S. arms firms jockey to sell advanced fighter jets to Israel 13:28 18 U.S. soldiers in Kuwait contract swine flu 13:22 Iran blocks Facebook due to presidential campaigning 09:38 Russia FM favors maintaining contacts with Hamas Previous Editions Select Day 22 may 21 may 20 may 19 may 18 may 17 may 15 may 14 may 13 may 12 may 11 may 10 may

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