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A gesture to the Prisons Service
By Amira Hass
Tags: Israel, Prisoner release

The release of another 440 Palestinian prisoners is a nice gesture to the Israel Prisons Service. It lessens the terrible overcrowding in the jails, albeit only slightly. And it eases the burden on the security establishment, which has not completely succeeded in avoiding its obligation to allow some family members to visit their loved ones once every two weeks.

The release of prisoners ?without blood on their hands? − or, to dispense with the language laundering, those who were not found guilty of murdering Jews − is a small correction that the bureaucracy of occupation is making in the process of arresting, trying and convicting Palestinians. Conviction in the military tribunals is almost always a foregone conclusion. The punishments are harsh and excessive with regard to every count in the indictment. They are motivated by revenge on the part of representatives of the occupying people against representatives of the occupied people. No detainee is given the minimal rights needed to defend himself against the accusations. The threat of detention ?(in unbearable conditions?) until the end of proceedings spurs the accused and those who represent him to sign a plea bargain without cross-examining the prosecution?s witnesses and verifying their veracity.

True, civilian courts are also not immune to discrimination and prejudice, but it is reasonable to assume that were the military tribunals to conduct themselves in the same way as the civilian courts do, many Palestinian detainees would not be convicted at all, due to a lack of concrete evidence, while others would be sentenced to much shorter terms. With this in mind, the prisoner release is also a gesture to the military judges: They will have fewer months of unjustifiable detention on their consciences.
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During the 1990s, Israel released some 10,000 Palestinian prisoners within the framework of the Oslo accords. Just as it was in Ireland and South Africa, that is the accepted practice: When, in a struggle against national repression, the parties agree to make peace, the occupying party recognizes that the violence of the prisoners it releases was a response to its own violence. This is not a gesture, but a necessary step toward a solution. The released Palestinians included almost all of those who had been convicted of murdering other Palestinians ?(due to suspicions that they were collaborators?). But Israel refused to release Palestinians who had been convicted of murdering Jews. It also refused to release detainees from East Jerusalem, the Golan Heights or Israel. Some 84 prisoners who belong to these four categories have already been in prison between 18 and 30 years, serving life sentences that will end only with their own deaths.

If these prisoners had been Jews, they would have been released long ago − whether because, as Jews who murdered Palestinians, their sentences would have been commuted by the president ?(Ami Popper, who murdered seven workers, is the exception among Jewish prisoners who murdered Palestinians; he gets regular furloughs but has not been released?), or because they would have been charged with lesser crimes than murder to begin with and would not have been tried in military tribunals.

Had Said al A?tabeh of Nablus, the most veteran of the Palestinian prisoners, been a Jew, he would not have started serving his 31st year in jail in July, with no end in sight. He was convicted of commanding a Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine cell, one of whose members planted a bomb that killed one Israeli and wounded another 32. If Muhkhles Burghal from Lod, who was convicted 20 years ago of throwing a hand grenade that failed to explode at a bus carrying soldiers, had been a Jew, he would not have been imprisoned until now, with another 20 years still to go − without the right to furloughs, without the right to hug his 70-year-old mother.

These are the prisoners whose release today, yesterday or 10 years ago would have proven that Israel is indeed interested in change, recognizes its own long history of violence and seeks to reduce it. Its failure to release them is not only a bitter disappointment to their families and friends. It is a blow to everyone who is interested in a solution of peace
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  1.   Israel is expected to be nice. What are the Palestinians 09:27  |  Avihu 21/11/07
  2.   Amira is right and wrong...... 09:38  |  Swiss (Dino) 21/11/07
  3.   Amira in wonderland 09:48  |  sptz 21/11/07
  4.   Amira Hass 09:53  |  Ralph 21/11/07
  5.   Israel has changed international attitudes (for the worse) 09:55  |  Natallie Durson 21/11/07
  6.   prisoners 09:57  |  Gabe 21/11/07
  7.   anorexia 10:09  |  pat 21/11/07
  8.   RELEASING MORE CRIMINALS IS A BLOW TO SECURITY 10:14  |  B.Heddem 21/11/07
  9.   Whatever Israel does, even releasing many prisioners is wrong 10:20  |  Daniel 21/11/07
  10.   I can`t figure it out!!! 10:33  |  Dr Eric 21/11/07
  11.   The past track record of released Pals. is NOT good 10:40  |  PETER S .M. 21/11/07
  12.   WHERE is SHALIT in all this? Why Arabs but not Israeli? 10:42  |  PETER SM 21/11/07
  13.   HAVE They killed Shalit? A private rather than a public lynching? 10:48  |  PETER S .M. 21/11/07
  14.   the teachers strike 10:52  |  bottom line 21/11/07
  15.   "where is Gilad Shalit ?" 10:56  |  Atilla Karagözoğlu 21/11/07
  16.   Amira, This injustice makes my blood boil 11:32  |  Dutch 21/11/07
  17.   eric the red 11:55  |  jorsalafari 21/11/07
  18.   # 5 RE: Israel has changed attitudes for the worse 11:57  |  Dutch 21/11/07
  19.   Amira, your Credibility would be better if 12:15  |  Tzfonit 21/11/07
  20.   Amira, Peter`s one track mind on Shalit 12:22  |  Dutch 21/11/07
  21.   Amira and Dutch, the real reason there`s no peace 12:42  |  David Teich 21/11/07
  22.   Reply to David Teich (Post No. 21) 13:03  |  Johnny Weintraub 21/11/07
  23.   NDURSON Arab attitudes to prisoners remains unchanged 13:42  |  PETER S.M. 21/11/07
  24.   Amira Hass makes us think of the Uncle Tom blacks in SA 14:03  |  Julle is laf 21/11/07
  25.   If Annapolis Success More Will Be Released 14:17  |  Jane 21/11/07
  26.   # 2 Swiss Dino What do you mean: 15:40  |  Jim 21/11/07
  27.   #5 Natalie Durson 15:55  |  Jim 21/11/07
  28.   Typical of Olmert 15:59  |  Mark Lincoln 21/11/07
  29.   #6 Gabe 16:00  |  Jim 21/11/07
  30.   22 I know Israelis are not searching for their killers either 16:03  |  dutch 21/11/07
  31.   Indeed Doris, who does give a damn about Gilad Shalit 16:11  |  Jacob Blues 21/11/07
  32.   Jane, let`s put this in perspective 16:11  |  Ibrahim 21/11/07
  33.   #8 B Heddem 16:14  |  Jim 21/11/07
  34.   Yesterday`s suicide attack 16:18  |  Serge 21/11/07
  35.   #16 Dutch 16:24  |  Jim 21/11/07
  36.   Haaretz doesn`t care much for honesty. 16:25  |  Lynn 21/11/07
  37.   Reminder to Israelis: Amira Hass is your mortal enemy 16:36  |  Steve Randolph 21/11/07
  38.   19 Israel`s credibility would be better if it didn`t dodge Int`l 17:03  |  Dutch 21/11/07
  39.   Who Cares What This Jew Hater Thinks eom 17:08  |  paul almond 21/11/07
  40.   Natallie 17:09  |  Tor 21/11/07
  41.   Lying Hass, they could free all prisoners - wouldn`t bring peace 17:12  |  McQueen 21/11/07
  42.   A gesture: release SHALIT 17:16  |  KUTW 21/11/07
  43.   This is a plain LIE,Amira Hess,you could do 17:18  |  TOMY 21/11/07
  44.   Peter Sm & David Teich The real reason for no peace 17:40  |  Dutch 21/11/07
  45.   Free Gilad Shalit 17:54  |  Michael Korn 21/11/07
  46.   Enough with the Shalit fraud 18:21  |  Tosefta 21/11/07
  47.   The best gesture will be to kill all the PLO terrorists 18:23  |  Feiglin Supporter 21/11/07
  48.   Too much, not enough 18:59  |  SDHD 21/11/07
  49.   Hello Ibrahim - Prisoners of War 19:16  |  Jane 21/11/07
  50.   avihu 1 19:27  |  realism 21/11/07
  51.   peter sm 12 19:39  |  realism 21/11/07
  52.   Success to free that many Arab terrorists is a blow to "Peace!" 19:45  |  Genuine Tosefta 21/11/07
  53.   Atilla Liman the Greek:Recommendation for a good mental institute 19:49  |  Genuine Tosefta 21/11/07
  54.   Hass is correct 19:49  |  Adrian de Klerk 21/11/07
  55.   #24 Julle is laf 19:50  |  Joe Moer 21/11/07
  56.   What About Gilad Shalit? 19:53  |  CHGODMK 21/11/07
  57.   #2 Swiss, You are right a little,wrong a lot 19:53  |  TOMY 21/11/07
  58.   #20, Dutch... 20:18  |  Silvienne 21/11/07
  59.   #22, Johnny Weintraub... 20:20  |  Silvienne 21/11/07
  60.   #29, Jim....well said! 20:21  |  Silvienne 21/11/07
  61.   Jane, Shalit will eventually be released as well. 20:38  |  Ibrahim 21/11/07
  62.   # 49 Jane 20:57  |  tbora 21/11/07
  63.   Chinese wisdom for Slowman 21:17  |  Amira Hass 21/11/07
  64.   How cynical 21:33  |  Moshe from Haifa 21/11/07
  65.   hass and gestures of peace 21:34  |  Connie M. 21/11/07
  66.   # 4 Where is Shalit ? 21:40  |  Alan L 21/11/07
  67.   JIM Siege would continue without Qassems?Stop the Qassems & see 21:53  |  PETER S.M. 21/11/07
  68.   Amira Hass 21:55  |  Joy Wolfe 21/11/07
  69.   Hass - A Court Certified Liar 22:19  |  David Samson 21/11/07
  70.   Joe Moer 22:40  |  Julle is laf 21/11/07
  71.   No one knows better than Israel... 22:59  |  Maureen Ann 21/11/07
  72.   # 26 Jim 23:00  |  Swiss (Dino) 21/11/07
  73.   # 57 TOMY 23:08  |  Swiss (Dino) 21/11/07
  74.   More Terrorists on streets danger to PEACE 00:01  |  Rafi 22/11/07
  75.   Free Amira! Send her back to Teheran! 00:06  |  Mr. Ami Goldman 22/11/07
  76.   MURINE AN, MURINE AN, MURINE AN, Where are you my deer? 00:10  |  Jalal Shahid 22/11/07
  77.   Israelis should boycott or ban Haaretz if they keep Amira Hass 00:46  |  Steve Randolph 22/11/07
  78.   #58 Silvienne, The odds against us 00:49  |  Dutch 22/11/07
  79.   What`s the use, 500 released, 1,500 taken hostage 01:01  |  El-birawi 22/11/07
  80.   Right on Amira 01:07  |  peacelover 22/11/07
  81.   Silvienne dont you understand the difference? 01:08  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 22/11/07
  82.   Irish Example 01:08  |  Mike 22/11/07
  83.   when is ahmedinajad getting a column on haaretz? 01:12  |  Isaac 22/11/07
  84.   #73 Swiss,as far as strict separation is 01:15  |  TOMY 22/11/07
  85.   #71 Maureen,your insanity has no limits 01:29  |  TOMY 22/11/07
  86.   The tragic truth Jane 02:20  |  Mark Lincoln 22/11/07
  87.   # 83 TOMY 02:25  |  Swiss (Dino) 22/11/07
  88.   #85Tomy. Their water has been stolen... 02:39  |  Maureen Ann 22/11/07
  89.   Mike 03:34  |  Connie 22/11/07
  90.   #88, Maureen,you are discredited because of 04:27  |  TOMY 22/11/07
  91.   #87 Swiss,I am not for greater Israel,I am for 04:36  |  TOMY 22/11/07
  92.   Who released 04:37  |  Harry 22/11/07
  93.   To TOMY 05:02  |  Oetis 22/11/07
  94.   MAUREEN N @71Then why is Israel releasing any "innocent"Pals? 05:11  |  PETER SM 22/11/07
  95.   El-Birawi 05:22  |  Mark Lincoln 22/11/07
  96.   #91 TOMY....by the British for the express 06:04  |  Lynn 22/11/07
  97.   Silvienne (Post no. 59) 06:52  |  Johnny Weintraub 22/11/07
  98.   #77 Steve Randolph, Some free thinker 06:54  |  John 22/11/07
  99.   Dutch (Post No. 44) 07:01  |  Johnny Weintraub 22/11/07
  100.   You are what your name anagrams? 07:11  |  D.R. Zukerman 22/11/07
  101.   Amira - Experience your PHONY Peace-Live in Sderot 07:12  |  Linda Rivera 22/11/07
  102.   #81 Margie, Your hypocrisy shines through 07:19  |  John 22/11/07
  103.   102 Israel`s Political The ultimate denial of Human Rights 07:36  |  John 22/11/07
  104.   #65I pray God will leads your out of Israel`s darkness 07:51  |  Joan 22/11/07
  105.   #88mauren and the holy water ? stolen by whom 08:21  |  victor hardman 22/11/07
  106.   #81, Margie...the difference... 08:32  |  Silvienne 22/11/07
  107.   #97, Johnny Weintraub... 08:38  |  Silvienne 22/11/07
  108.   #85, TOMY`s ridiculous post to Maureen Ann... 08:42  |  Silvienne 22/11/07
  109.   # 91 TOMY 08:56  |  Swiss (Dino) 22/11/07
  110.   102John How often were Pal prisoners lynched by an Israeli crowd? 08:58  |  Rob 22/11/07
  111.   106Silvienne The difference-You make things up 09:52  |  Rob 22/11/07
  112.   rob 110 10:07  |  realism 22/11/07
  113.   112Realism Inverting cause and effect 10:55  |  Rob 22/11/07
  114.   Let`s build a hostel... 12:01  |  Motic 22/11/07
  115.   Independent Judiciary 12:03  |  Joseph 22/11/07
  116.   #115 Joseph Re An independent judiciary 17:15  |  Dutch 22/11/07
  117.   Hello Silvienne, a note for you 17:28  |  Dutch 22/11/07
  118.   #93Oetis,Only the most ignorant creature 17:49  |  TONY 22/11/07
  119.   #108 Silvienne,Those terrorists belong in 18:49  |  TOMY 22/11/07
  120.   #111, Rob... 06:13  |  Silvienne 23/11/07
  121.   #118, Tony...to Oetis 06:15  |  Silvienne 23/11/07
  122.   #117, Dutch... 06:17  |  Silvienne 23/11/07
  123.   44: Dutch can`t help but lie 19:37  |  David Teich 24/11/07
  124.   Silvienne: Avoiding as usual 19:42  |  David Teich 24/11/07
  125.   #124, David Teich... 04:37  |  Silvienne 25/11/07
  126.   125: Poor Silvienne, lost in a miasma of hate 14:50  |  David Teich 26/11/07
  127.   The other parts Silvienne won`t address 14:56  |  David Teich 26/11/07
  128.   Silvienne, the latest item you ignore 15:25  |  David Teich 26/11/07
  129.   #126, David Teich, you didn`t reply... 03:29  |  Silvienne 27/11/07
  130.   #128, David Teich... 03:32  |  Silvienne 27/11/07
  131.   129: Silvienne talking about not answering? 15:29  |  David Teich 29/11/07
  132.   What Silvienne continues to avoid 15:31  |  David Teich 29/11/07
  133.   #131, David Teich... 03:15  |  Silvienne 30/11/07
  134.   133: Silvienne, still avoiding, I see... 15:46  |  David Teich 04/12/07
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