Prison Service ready to absorb 2,300 disengagement detainees

Prison Service director Ya'akov Ganot said on Wednesday that Israeli jails were prepared to absorb up to 2,300 disengagement protesters.

Ganot was telling the Knesset Interior and Environment Committee on the Prison Service's preparations for the pullout, which is slated for mid-August.

He said 900 people could be housed in the Ma'asiyahu and Be'er Sheva prisons during the first stage of the plan.

The Prison Service has erected temporary compounds next to the jails that will serve as courts for remand extension hearings.

The temporary courts would shorten judicial procedures and prevent the need to transport the detainees to permanent courts, Ganot said.

The Prisons Service chief also said that if needed, 900 further people would be placed in military prisons where Palestinian security prisoners are being held. The latter would be transferred to other prisons under Israel Defense Forces jurisdiction.

Ganot went on to say the prisons were also preparing special facilities to provide medical service for women and children among the detainees.