Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., August 16, 2009 Av 26, 5769 | | Israel Time: 15:50 (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 Focus U.S.A. Travel Week's End Anglo File
Comments:  71
Share |
Last update - 07:21 06/08/2009
France to Israel: Free man who plotted attack on Ovadia Yosef
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent, and Haaretz Service
Tags: Israel News, Nicolas Sarkozy 

French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner appealed to Israel for clemency for a French-Palestinian who was jailed for his role in plotting the assassination of Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef.

Sarkozy's letter was delivered to the prime minister's bureau in Jerusalem on July 30 by way of the Israeli embassy in Paris just a few days after a similar letter was sent by Kouchner to Defense Minister Ehud Barak.

The unusual request was made after pro-Palestinian groups in France lobbied for the release of the Palestinian, whose imprisonment has been likened there to the captivity of Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit.
Advertisement
The incarcerated Palestinian, Salah Hamouri, is an Arab resident of Jerusalem who holds French citizenship. Sarkozy and Kouchner urged Israel to reduce Hamouri's sentence by a third due to good behavior. "He has a chance to rehabilitate himself," Sarkozy wrote to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Hamouri, 24, is a member of the People's Front for the Liberation of Palestine. In 2005, he was arrested after co-conspiring with others to assassinate Rabbi Ovadia Yosef. Hamouri and his friends, who purchased weapons and ammunition, planned to murder Yosef, whose address in the Har-Nof neighborhood of Jerusalem was known to them because one of the members of the cell had worked as a food delivery man for a local eatery.

During police questioning and the trial, Hamouri confessed to planning the attack.

Since his incarceration, Hamouri's mother, Denise, has led a public campaign with the aid of Palestinian non-government groups in France. Denise Hamouri argues that since her son is a French citizen, France needs to act to win his release in the same manner in which it has lobbied for the freedom of Shalit, the IDF soldier who also holds French citizenship.

After many months of intense efforts, Denise Hamouri was granted a meeting with an aide to Sarkozy at the Elysee Palace, though she was denied the opportunity to meet with the president himself.

A spokesman in Netanyahu's bureau said that the legal aspects of the issue are being examined by the Foreign Ministry's legal advisor and a letter of response to the French is forthcoming.

Related articles:
  • Sarkozy is right - Lieberman must go
  • Sarkozy: No Shalit deal unless Israel frees jailed Palestinians
  • Gaullism is dead, long live Sarkozyism
    • PROMOTION: Mamilla Hotel
    Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Fatah's Jew
    Jerusalem-born Jew Uri Davis elected to Fatah Revolutionary Council
    Syrian missile failure
    Report: 20 Syrian civilians were killed in failed joint missile test in May
      1.   clemancy for a terrorist? 20:37  |  vik 05/08/09
      2.   Sure, why not, who else Monsignor Le President? 20:44  |  Emanuel 05/08/09
      3.   Similar to Shalit? On what grounds should he be released? 20:48  |  4:20 05/08/09
      4.   About simmetry 20:54  |  Peter 05/08/09
      5.   Peter - I agree but if Shalit is dead, Hamouri should be released 21:04  |  B 05/08/09
      6.   Ask Hamouri`s family to get Shalit freed 21:07  |  Binyamin Dissen 05/08/09
      7.   Absolutely not... 21:09  |  BBSNews 05/08/09
      8.   typical of a country scared of terrorist-- France 21:16  |  bows to terrorism 05/08/09
      9.   RE: Emanuel, it`s "Monsieur" le Président to you! 21:17  |  Ninjateck 05/08/09
      10.   truth comes out 21:20  |  PALISTINIANS 05/08/09
      11.   Killing Rav Ovadia????? 21:31  |  Ofer Maimon 05/08/09
      12.   What is wrong with french? 21:35  |  Daniel 05/08/09
      13.   Grand clemency to jail Palestinian 21:39  |  Akram Zekaria 05/08/09
      14.   it is the leftists of jewish backgroud 21:43  |  fabrice 05/08/09
      15.   Thank you, Islamic Republic of France 21:56  |  IW 05/08/09
      16.   Sarkozy the new Esterhazy 21:58  |  C 05/08/09
      17.   the french:Always the first with the white flag 22:09  |  Arie 05/08/09
      18.   chutzpah! that is all this is. Chutzpah 22:12  |  Jewish State 05/08/09
      19.   It would be good.. 22:17  |  Ed 05/08/09
      20.   # 10 daniel 22:22  |  Axel 05/08/09
      21.   Shalit was kidnapped, not arrested w/ confession to terror! 22:28  |  Slappy 05/08/09
      22.   Focus 22:51  |  Philippe 05/08/09
      23.   Then were does it stop. France will free, the UK will free, US?? 22:54  |  JO 05/08/09
      24.   Don`t see any Israeli soldiers helping NATO in Afghanistan 22:54  |  Ninjateck 05/08/09
      25.   Why all the indignation? Israel was buil on terror. 22:55  |  jerry 05/08/09
      26.   Xenophobia 23:02  |  Frantz 05/08/09
      27.   The Guy is crystal CLEAN 23:13  |  Billy Goat 05/08/09
      28.   Why not.? strip from citizenship and send to France 23:41  |  17 05/08/09
      29.   The times they are a changing... 23:43  |  Colin Wright 05/08/09
      30.   Dissapointing, but hardly shocking from the leaders of a nation 23:51  |  Jacob Blues 05/08/09
      31.   politics 00:27  |  Paul 06/08/09
      32.   Actually Binyamin (no. 6) 00:39  |  Jackie 06/08/09
      33.   How About A One-To-Onr Prisoner Exchange? 00:52  |  Jeff Northridge 06/08/09
      34.   # 30 jacob blues 01:27  |  Axel 06/08/09
      35.   Too Bad Israel Doesn`t Have The Death Penalty 02:11  |  Mordechai 06/08/09
      36.   This equation doesn`t add up 02:43  |  Jon 06/08/09
      37.   # BBS News - how confused are you? 04:01  |  Magpie 06/08/09
      38.   To Frantz -Great French Republic 04:59  |  Victor 06/08/09
      39.   I see not much has changed in France 05:24  |  Mark 06/08/09
      40.   #30, Jacob the Cosmic Blues. 05:26  |  zmogus 06/08/09
      41.   A prior Reader was right - he is the Chavez of Europe 05:39  |  Eugenio 06/08/09
      42.   france wants to make a deal.What are they afraid of? 05:47  |  Connie 06/08/09
      43.   billy goat 06:02  |  Connie 06/08/09
      44.   Rabbi Ovadia Yosef 06:09  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 06/08/09
      45.   Magpie, how confused are you? 06:14  |  BBSNews 06/08/09
      46.   Sarkozy is the new Petain 06:15  |  Observateur 06/08/09
      47.   Will France agree to take him in? 07:25  |  Jason 06/08/09
      48.   serve sentance in France 07:55  |  Ethan 06/08/09
      49.   Terrorists should be treated as war criminals. 08:01  |  B. Gold 06/08/09
      50.   Let`s trade Ovadia Yosef for Gilad Shalit 08:54  |  Frank 06/08/09
      51.   Connie-probably American 08:56  |  Billy Goaty 06/08/09
      52.   Jon 08:58  |  Llyn 06/08/09
      53.   FREE GILAD SHALIT - ICRC CHECK ON HIS STATUS 09:02  |  lily 06/08/09
      54.   Europeans Accept Pal Delusion, Hook, Line & Sinker 09:04  |  Brad 06/08/09
      55.   Not Cozy With Sarkozy 09:20  |  Justin White 06/08/09
      56.   Great idea. Free Hamouri and Shalit together 09:48  |  Joe Sittizen 06/08/09
      57.   Sarkozy is no fool,this is great news 10:03  |  james hazan 06/08/09
      58.   Bibi asks Pollard to be freed but this time oh of course no 11:16  |  mehmet 06/08/09
      59.   france to israel 11:35  |  zoe 06/08/09
      60.   DONT FREE GILAD SHALIT!! 11:47  |  Anne 06/08/09
      61.   MEHMET Did he? Is your second name Agca 12:08  |  PETER SM 06/08/09
      62.   Sinners from the past 12:27  |  JAN 06/08/09
      63.   #38 - To Victor 15:13  |  Frantz 06/08/09
      64.   First worry about Gilad Shalit a French passport holder 15:39  |  lily 06/08/09
      65.   When Shalit is released, then they can negotiate... 16:26  |  Nannette 06/08/09
      66.   52:Lyn 19:01  |  Yaron 06/08/09
      67.   Billy Goaty 20:09  |  Connie 06/08/09
      68.   Sarkozy, 23:32  |  Hub 06/08/09
      69.   France has to humor their ever increasing Moslem population 01:49  |  PETER SM 07/08/09
      70.   Sure, France should get Hamouri back 09:15  |  nina 07/08/09
      71.   Sarko is right, Hamouri must be released 19:44  |  Cadmos 11/08/09
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Dead Sea Salt
    From the Dead Sea Coupon cofe Haaretz for 10% off!
    hotel Jerusalem
    David Citadel Hotel, come stay at the finest of Jerusalem hotels.
    Master's Program in Desert Studies
    An innovative, multidisciplinary, international program specialized in Desert Research
    Dead Sea Cosmetics .Summer Specials
    Velvet Hand Cream just $14.90
    Handmade In Tel Aviv
    Itay Noy, Timepiece Maker
    ISRAEL ARMY SURPLUS STORE
    IDF insignia,Uniforms, Paladium Boots Watches, Israel Army T-shirts & Collectibles
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    More Headlines
    15:18 Netanyahu on Tel Aviv beach murder: We'll fight domestic terrorism
    13:06 Police arrest alleged 'photographing' serial rapist
    10:54 Iran tries Jewish teen, 24 others for post-election protests
    11:23 Netanyahu envoy departs for U.S. to negotiate settlement freeze
    10:55 ANALYSIS / Hamas swiftly crushes challenge to its rule in Gaza
    15:31 Traffickers target Israeli girls to replace foreign sex slaves
    12:48 'Ahmadinejad taps nuclear negotiator as Iran foreign minister'
    23:09 TV ROUND-UP: Murder on Tel Aviv beach, Gaza clashes, Nasrallah threats
    03:49 Nothing in Israel to be proud of anymore
    04:53 Mubarak wants Obama to present his peace plan soon
    10:24 'I worked 12-hour days, seven days a week, with one day off per month'
    12:31 Kuwait wedding fire that killed 41 women, children lasted 'three minutes'
    05:37 Drug-resilient swine flu strain documented in U.S.
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Site rules |
    | Israel 2009 election results | 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