Tuesday, Feb 22, 2005
Tuesday, Feb 22, 2005 |
| International | ||||
|
News:
Front Page |
National |
Tamil Nadu |
Andhra Pradesh |
Karnataka |
Kerala |
New Delhi |
Other States |
International |
Opinion |
Business |
Sport |
Miscellaneous |
Engagements |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | International
By Atul Aneja
MANAMA, FEB. 21. Israel today released 500 Palestinian political prisoners following a ceasefire agreement with the Palestinians during a summit at the Egyptian resort of Sharm-el-Sheikh earlier this month. Of the 500 prisoners, 382 had been sentenced to prison terms and 118 were being held in "administrative" detention. Under the agreement, a further 400 Palestinian prisoners are scheduled to be released within three months. The first group of prisoners left the Ketziot prison this morning and headed for the West Bank town of Jenin As the first freed prisoners stepped off the buses, crowds of relatives reached out to touch and hug them. "I cannot believe that I am smelling the air of freedom, that I will see my family," Abu Madala was quoted by Associated Press as saying. "Nothing can describe my joy and my feelings." Analysts, however, point out that none of the 900 prisoners that are in the process of being freed were found guilty of attacks that killed or wounded Israelis. Most had already served at least two-thirds of their sentences. A joint Israeli-Palestinian ministerial committee will decide which prisoners will be released in the second round. Mohammad Dahlan, a close adviser of the Palestinian Authority President, Mohammad Abbas, said Palestinians are awaiting a wider release in the future. The release of the first batch of jailed Palestinians follows the approval by the Israeli Cabinet on Sunday to withdraw from Gaza and northern West Bank in five-months.
Palestinian Cabinet
Meanwhile, decks have been cleared for the appointment of new Palestinian Cabinet. Legislators from the Fatah movement, who have a two-thirds majority in Parliament, have approved a new Cabinet. Palestinian officials said Mr. Abbas is set to form his inner circle of Ministers. Nasir Yusuf has been named Interior Minister — a move resisted earlier by the late Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat. Mr. Dahlan has now become the Minister for Cabinet Affairs. The Palestinian Ambassador to the U.N., Nasir al-Kidwa, has been named as Foreign Minister, replacing Nabil Shaath, who will be Deputy Prime Minister.
Printer friendly
page
News:
Front Page |
National |
Tamil Nadu |
Andhra Pradesh |
Karnataka |
Kerala |
New Delhi |
Other States |
International |
Opinion |
Business |
Sport |
Miscellaneous |
Engagements |
|
|
|
The Hindu Group: Home | About Us | Copyright | Archives | Contacts | Subscription Group Sites: The Hindu | Business Line | The Sportstar | Frontline | The Hindu eBooks | The Hindu Images | Home |
Copyright © 2005, The
Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of
this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of
The Hindu
|
