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Israel frees Palestinian Deputy Premier

Atul Aneja

DUBAI: An Israeli military court has released the Palestinian Deputy Prime Minister who had been arrested earlier during an Israeli political crackdown on Hamas.

With his release after six weeks of detention, Nasser Al-Shaer became the senior most politician to be released, after Hamas militants captured an Israeli soldier near Gaza in June. "There was no basis for his arrest. This is natural," Mr. Al Shaer's lawyer said.

Mr. Al-Shaer's wife confirmed that her husband had been freed and was heading towards Nablus in the northern West Bank.

Under the court's order, Mr. Al Shaer would have to stay out of Ramallah, the seat of the Palestinian Government, for two weeks.

About 30 Hamas functionaries are still in Israeli custody and some of them are facing terrorism related charges. The military court on Monday, refused to release on bail, 21 other jailed Hamas officials before legal proceedings against them ended. There has been speculation that Israel might free detainees as part of a possible deal over the release on its captured soldier, Gilad Shalit.

In a related development, Egypt has asked Hamas to free Corporal Shalit immediately.

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