Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., April 26, 2009 Iyyar 2, 5769 | | Israel Time: 16:29 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Joy of Giving Travel Week's End Anglo File TLV 100
Comments:  10
Last update - 17:04 17/04/2009
Father of Bat Ayin terror victim, 7, gets prison furlough to visit son
By Jonathan Lis , Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Ofer Gamliel, Terror Attack 

The jailed father of a 7-year-old boy wounded by an axe-wielding Palestinian in the West Bank settlement of Bat Ayin on Thursday has been granted temporary leave to visit his son in hospital.

Ofer Gamliel, who is serving a 15 year sentence for his involvement in a Jewish militant underground during the second Intifada, was allowed Friday to visit his son Yair who was moderately injured in the attack a day earlier.

On Thursday, Gamliel refused Prison Service's offer to visit his son in the company of guards, unshackled and wearing inmate's clothing.He demanded instead to be granted temporary furlough and to wear the jalabiya - traditional Arab garb that he wears within prison walls.
Advertisement
Initially, prison officials initially made it clear that Gamliel would not be allowed to leave the premises in the jalabiya and the man decided to stay in prison rather than visit his son.

Gamliel and Prison Services finally struck a compromise that he could wear the garb so long as he had it tucked in his pants and maintained a dignified appearance.

Ofer Gamliel's brother, Meir Avihu Gamliel, was outraged by the Prison Service's insistence, dubbing it "power struggles."

"Ofer was approved for leave immediately after the attack, since he should be there by his child's side," Gamliel said. "The Shin Bet did not oppose to the visit. Only later did the prison service say they changed their minds and disallowed his leave, relegating him to just a visit while accompanied by prison guards, and with shackled hands."

"Ofer agreed to leave the prison under the prison service's conditions, but then, just as he was leaving, the security officer told him that he could not go out wearing the Jellabiya he wears every day," he added.

Earlier Friday morning, Yair Gamliel was operated on in Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem. He was then transferred to the hospital's pediatric intensive care unit, fully conscience.

Ofer Gamliel is currently serving a prison sentence for his involvement in the 'Bat Ayin Underground,' which planned an attack several years ago at a girls' school in the A-Tor neighborhood in East Jerusalem.

The 'Bat Ayin Underground' was active in the West Bank and East Jerusalem during the early years of the Second Intifada.

In April 2002, police arrested Shlomo Dvir, Yarden Morag and Ofer Gamliel, 'Bat Ayin underground' members, who were later convicted of attempting to place an explosive device near the East Jerusalem school.

Morag and Gamliel were sentenced to 15 years each, while Dvir was sentenced to 12 years. Additional Bat Ayin residents were arrested and convicted in connection to the attempted attack.

Gamliel, 47, was a carpenter and os father of seven children.

Six months ago, he went on a hunger strike to protest the conditions in jail.

Last October, Interior Minister Eli Yishai asked President Shimon Peres to intervene on behalf of Gamliel and his associates to improve the conditions of their imprisonment
Bookmark to del.icio.us  
 
Failing Gilad
Leaders of the effort to free captured IDF soldier take stock of their failed campaign.
Pro-Nazis who saved Jews
500 Jews were spared thanks to Nazi-affiliated Templers living in the Holy Land
  1.   Arab "Terrorists" vs Jewish "militant underground"... 21:49  |  peacelover 03/04/09
  2.   Why does he wear "Arab garb" in prison? 21:52  |  peacelover 03/04/09
  3.   The father should be freed now 22:02  |  jr 03/04/09
  4.   terrorists vs militants 23:51  |  akademic 03/04/09
  5.   it is a good question. 00:10  |  Antonio da Silva 04/04/09
  6.   I hope the boy gets well, maybe the father 00:31  |  jim the mechanic 04/04/09
  7.   How many Palestinian Mums & Dads are allowed 01:26  |  kiwi girl 04/04/09
  8.   Why is Israel building roads to connect certain settler outposts 02:02  |  Maureen Ann 04/04/09
  9.   MAUREEN Because the border is yet to be finsalised 23:47  |  PETER SM 04/04/09
  10.   Terrorist or militant 16:13  |  Arnold 26/04/09
 Haaretz Hot Topics
Durban II conference
Air strike in Sudan
Israel 2009 election results: Voter breakdown
Israel vs. Hamas
Iran: Nuclear and regional ambitions
More Headlines
15:50 Shin Bet: We've caught Bat Ayin axe terrorist
16:19 Swine flu scare in Israel: Netanya man feared ill
15:51 Clinton: U.S. will never sell out Lebanon for Syria deal
15:00 Israeli guards repel Somali pirate attack on cruise ship
12:07 EU president: Europe blind to scale of Iran threat
11:19 Lieberman: Israel will not attack Iran - even if sanctions fail
13:25 Israeli who tried to spy for Iran given 4 years in prison
21:43 WATCH: Daily news round-up from Israel
11:27 Yossi Melman / Israeli spies don't work just for Mossad
08:21 Shin Bet: 'Pope mobile' not good enough to protect pontiff
12:10 Israel's remembrance day is not disabled-friendly
11:08 'Golden Girls' star Bea Arthur dies aged 86
11:26 Lieberman: Ready for Syria talks, but with no preconditions
Previous Editions
Special Offers
Advertisement
Spring Specials-Dan Hotels
Jerusalem from 179$. Tel-Aviv from 223$. Herzliya from 336$
The Meier on Rothschild Tower
Masterpiece Residence in the Heart of Tel Aviv
Dead Sea Skin Care
Quality cosmetics from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 12% off!
Camp Kimama Israel 2009
The best place for your children this summer
Eldan Rent a Car
Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
Jewish Singles Personal Ads
Find the love of your life on JDate.com
Junkyard
Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | | Israel 2009 election results
Site rules | Makom: Engaging on Israel | Search engine marketing
Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved