Subscribe to Print Edition | Sat., November 29, 2008 Kislev 2, 5769 | | Israel Time: 14:18 (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 GA 2008 Travel Week's End Anglo File
Deputy State Attorney Shai Nitzan. (Lior Mizrahi)
Last update - 00:00 28/12/2006
Israel to impose limits on bank accounts of security prisoners
By Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondent

Israel will impose limits on the transfer of funds from the territories to Palestinians held in its prisons for security-related offenses, starting on February 1.

According to the new rules, the maximum sum per month each such inmate may receive will be NIS 1,300. In addition, control of funds distribution will no longer be in the hands of the prisoners' leadership, but will be handled by the prison authorities.

The adoption of the new rules is angering the Palestinian inmates.
Advertisement
The decision to alter the regulations governing money transfers was made following a number of meetings in recent months between representatives of the Justice Ministry, the Shin Bet security service, the Israel Prison Service and the Postal Bank, whose branches are used for inmates' accounts.

The law passed by the Knesset about a year and a half ago that forbids funding of terrorist activity served as catalyst for the start of the talks. The transfer of funds to militants held for terrorist activities, even after the fact, could be considered to be retroactive support for terrorist activities. The Postal Bank there were concerns that under the existing regulations on money transfers, it services would be considered as aiding and abetting terrorist activities.

Currently, there is no effective control over money transfers to security prisoners. These are received by the prisoners' leaders in the wings of various prisons, and depending on group affiliation, the funds are dispersed.

Prison Service Commissioner Ya'akov Ganot had expressed his concerns regarding the existing lack of controls, particularly in connection with Israeli Arabs serving sentences for participation in security-related violations. Ganot ordered a freeze on the transfer of funds from the Palestinian Authority to these inmates several months ago.

Deputy State Attorney Shai Nitzan has formulated the following new regulations:

* Each inmate held for security violations will receive funds into an individual bank account, in which no more than NIS 1,300 per month may be deposited. The figure is set according to the maximum that security inmates are allowed to spend in the prison canteen each month.

* Any one making a deposit will have to identify himself, so Israel will be able to block transfers from an individual identified as belonging to a militant group.

* Inmates will not be allowed to keep funds in their accounts for colleagues. This will strip inmate leaders of a major source of power.

* A computerized system will be set up in the Postal Bank that will include data on every inmate. The Prison Service is funding half the cost of the system, which will allow the "marking" of accounts belonging to inmates imprisoned for security-related violations. In return for the measures it has undertaken, the state has promised the Postal Bank immunity from prosecution if it is accused of aiding terrorist activities.

A senior source in the Prison Service said the new regulations, in addition to assisting in maintaining the law, will likely weaken the leadership of the Palestinian inmates.

"There will no longer be a situation in which vast sums of money are deposited without controls, or that a prisoner is released and he has large sums of money in his account," the source said.

The Prison Service has begun informing inmates in various prisons of the new regulations, provoking considerable anger.

A security source involved in the decisions said the new regulations constitute an improvement, but the maximum sum allowed to each inmate is still too high.

"The Prison Service is still trying to buy calm among the inmates through the money allowed them," he said. "We should have limited the monthly allowance to several hundred shekels, which will meet their minimum needs. That is what inmates held for criminal offenses are allowed to spend, and there is no reason why a terrorist held in our prisons should be allowed more, even if the money arrives from the Palestinian side."
Bookmark to del.icio.us  
 
Signs of al-Qaida
Is the global terror network behind the deadly attacks in Mumbai?
Denying Nazi links
104-year-old entertainer files lawsuit: It's not my fault Hitler was my fan.
  1.   Prisoner Bank Accounts - How much is Gilad Shalit 05:17  |  * BEN JABO 28/12/06
  2.   Coniscate all assets of terrorists` families 05:54  |  MARK KLEIN, M.D. 28/12/06
  3.   For Terrorists 05:56  |  Ron 28/12/06
  4.   No torment too small for the clerks of sadism 06:30  |  Hannah 28/12/06
  5.   Soon this new penalty will 06:59  |  Woodlawn 28/12/06
  6.   Good Idea. America should apply this to Pollard 07:36  |  Natallie Durson 28/12/06
  7.   Natallie Durson No. 6: Bursting blood vessels again! 09:47  |  Natan 28/12/06
  8.   Response to Hannah No. 4 10:06  |  Richard N. 28/12/06
  9.   #8, Richard, squatting in tal al-Rabey 10:23  |  Hannah 28/12/06
  10.   Pollard Palestinian political prisoners 11:37  |  Ya`akov Shmueli 28/12/06
  11.   Unbelievable... 11:41  |  JonathanInTelAviv 28/12/06
  12.   Limitations let Loose 12:32  |  asa 28/12/06
  13.   Richard N. answers Hannah No. 9 13:24  |  Richard N 28/12/06
  14.   terrorists` bank accounts 13:48  |  Briton 28/12/06
  15.   Dear Hannah - This is my second attempt at reaching you through.. 13:56  |  Petra 28/12/06
  16.   Natalie, 14:48  |  Charlie Bukhbzaa 28/12/06
  17.   # 16 15:08  |  american 28/12/06
  18.   #117 15:39  |  Israeli 28/12/06
  19.   Postal Bank Deposit for Prisoners 20:56  |  Sandie Hurani 14/05/08
  20.   Limits of bank account RE: Response to a question : of prisoners 13:57  |  Sandie 29/11/08
  21.   Limit on bank accounts 14:02  |  Sandie 29/11/08
  22.   Email sent to haaretz,co,il 14:15  |  Sandie 29/11/08
 Read & React
Bodies of two more hostages found at Chabad center in Mumbai
Responses: 375
ANALYSIS / Is Al-Qaida behind the Mumbai terror attacks?
Responses: 125
Roni Bart: Obama only makes demands of Israel, not the Palestinians
Responses: 127
Anshel Pfeffer: U.S. Jews jealous of Israelis who don't have to grapple with Jewish identity
Responses: 87


More Headlines
14:02 Israel: 8 Israelis killed in Mumbai terror attacks
10:53 Mumbai death toll jumps to 195 as Indian commandos kill last of gunmen
10:54 Slain Rabbi's only concern was helping Jews away from home
11:17 Indian media react angrily to Israeli criticism of Chabad rescue operation
12:31 8 IDF troops hurt in W. Negev mortar strike, soldier loses leg
13:31 ANALYSIS / Israel cannot defend against attacks such as one at Mumbai Chabad house
03:14 First U.S. ambassador to Libya in three decades to arrive in December
03:06 Tribunal to prosecute suspects in ex-Lebanese PM Hariri slaying to start March 1
18:49 JEWISH WORLD / What American Jews don't get about Israelis
07:36 Mumbai attack sends shock waves through Chabad community worldwide
13:55 U.S. accuses Syria of copying Iran nuclear cover-up tactics
17:28 IDF soldiers clash with Gaza militants, injuring two
08:07 'Horrifying' head-on road collision leaves 3 dead, 2 seriously hurt
04:06 Think tank: 20 percent of Israeli prisoners jailed for domestic violence
Previous Editions
Special Offers
Advertisement
Inbal Thanksgiving Sale
Save up to 30% off reservations at the Finest Hotel in Jerusalem
Living in Israel Studying in English
Click & Meet our students from all around the world
Living in Israel Studying in English
Click & Meet our students from all around the world
Dan Boutique Jerusalem
New Dan Hotel in Jerusalem Young, Fun & Distinctively Dan Book Now Online!
Fattal Hotel Chain
Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel.
Car rental in Israel
Shlomo Sixt Receive $15.00 from our low rates.
Dial 013 for your long-distance calls
and get all your money back
US CITIZENS
Vote for real change. Request your ballot today!
Eldan Rent a Car
Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations
Jewish Singles Personal Ads
Find the love of your life on JDate.com
Israel's Premier Real Estate Website
www. israel-property.com
Hebrew Summer courses
From $39.95
Junkyard
Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |
Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel
birthright 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