Prisoner release conditions prove Israel not acting in 'goodwill'

[Jefferson23]

By Charlie Hoyle

BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Conditions attached to the release of Palestinian prisoners prove that Israel is not serious about the peace process, the director of rights group Addameer said Monday as 26 Palestinians prepared to be freed from Israeli jails.

Israeli authorities are expected to release the veteran Palestinian prisoners after midnight in the third stage of a phased agreement to free 104 detainees in line with commitments to US-brokered peace talks, which began in July.

In October, Israel released a group of 26 Palestinians detained before the 1993 Oslo Accords, while a first group was freed on Aug. 13.

Sahar Francis, general director of rights group Addameer, said that while any release of prisoners is welcome, strict Israeli conditions on freed detainees undermine "hope" and "trust" in the peace process.

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=661333

[oberliner]

1. Disturbing that they are releasing these murderers at all

I seriously do not understand why anyone thinks this is a good thing.

[Scootaloo]

2. In Israel, non-Arab murderers usually get their sentences commuted at ~20 years

By the books, it's a life sentence, but of course, that can be shortened by decisions from above. 20-year murder sentences aren't uncommon in other nations around the world, for this matter.

Each of these men released has been in prison for twenty or more years.

This has been explained to you... each time there's been such a release. I can only conclude that your apparent cluelessness is feigned,

[oberliner]

3. Alrighty then

I still don't see how releasing murderers is a positive thing no matter how many times this sort of "explanation" is presented.

If that makes me "clueless" in your mind, so be it.

[Jefferson23]

5. The important thing to remember is that the Israeli government prefers to do this as a gesture

over removing settlements and they are planning on more settlements to come.

Priorities are something to behold.

[shira]

6. You don't know that. Find where the PA claims that they prefer....

...a settlement freeze over these prisoners being released.

[Jefferson23]

7. lol, it is not up to the PA..like they have clout. You crack me up. n/t

[shira]

12. You don't know that a settlement freeze minus a prisoner release would...

...have brought the Palestinians to the table, do you?

[Jefferson23]

14. I know you are clueless of politics. n/t

[shira]

15. You're assuming things u have no evidence for. n/t

[Jefferson23]

16. Read a newspaper once in awhile..you might learn something. n/t

[shira]

17. There's no newspaper showing Abbas would accept a freeze minus a prisoner release....

...to come to the table for talks.

[Jefferson23]

22. He is engagaing in the peace process even though he is only getting prisoners released.

Which speaks to his many flaws as a leader. The longer the dope continues
to be part of the Piece Process while Israel expands settlements, the better
Bibi likes it. Abbas is not fooling his people, imo..I think they know how spineless
he is. Prisoner releases will never help them achieve a viable state.

He is only getting prisoners released because Bibi prefers it that way.You can do simple
math, hopefully. Israel wants the West Bank for their state, how many Israeli voters
will hate him for releasing prisoners vs how many settlers will cheer him for not only
not freezing settlements, but expansion?

This is not hard, shira. Bibi knows damn well who he can afford to piss off and who he needs
to keep happy.

The numbers add up in favor of prisoner release..much more palatable for the settler diet.
He also knows because they wrote it that way, they can place those released back in
prison without much legal consequence.

[azurnoir]

20. well in reading newspapers I got this remember talks started July 29 2013

Obama again waives ban on Palestinian aid

July 26, 2013, 03:46PM

President Obama on Friday afternoon ordered another waiver of congressional restrictions on direct funding of the Palestinian Authority, clearing the way for more U.S. aid.

In the one-page order, Mr. Obama said he was taking the action due to the “national security interests” of the U.S. The move comes as the administration is preparing to host renewed direct talks in Washington between Palestinians and Israelis for the first time since 2010.

The president in March directed about $500 million to be sent to the Palestinian Authority, also waiving the restrictions set by Congress. At the time, Secretary of State John F. Kerry said he was seeking to move another $200 million to the Palestinians.

Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/inside-politics/2013/jul/26/obama-again-waives-ban-palestinian-aid/#ixzz2p20m9DDk

but I'm sure the possibility of Obama upholding the ban on aid to Palestine had nothing what so ever to do with Abbas agreeing talks as opposed to going to the ICC

[Jefferson23]

23. Yes.

[Scootaloo]

9. ...

[oberliner]

10. Is that really necessary?

This is meant to be a forum for serious discussion. Why post silly cartoon images?

[Scootaloo]

11. Now I'm laughing even harder.

This is meant to be a forum for serious discussion

well, Oberliner, it's hard to be serious when you're trying to stick your elbow up your nose with pretending to have no clue about regular prison terms, and Shira claiming that the PA doesn't want settlement freezes.

You people are being silly, so the rest of us are allowdd to be silly too, you know.

Okay. I promise to put on my serious face, so long as you and Shira stop posting silly shit. Dead?

[shira]

13. Can u find anything showing that the Palestinians would've negotiated....

...with a settlement freeze minus a prisoner release?

[Scootaloo]

18. I have no idea; the option wasn't actually raised.

Your question is thus rather pointless.

Can you tell me that the Israelis wouldn't have agreed to a settlement freeze in exchange for a Golda Meir-themed water park (all the slides are made of rough pine planks)?

...Sorry, sorry. Serious face.

...See? Serious!

[shira]

19. The point is that if the Palestinians wouldn't come to the table...

...unless prisoners are released, then settlements are irrelevant.

You're assuming.

[Scootaloo]

21. I'm afraid you're the one making assumptions, Shira

After all, the assertion here is all yours - I'm just laughing at you over it.

By the rules of logic, you need to demonstrate that your argument is valid. show me that the Palestinians prefer prisoners to a settlement freeze. That IS your assertion, isn't it? should be pretty easy to do. Surely you know of Israel offering a settlement freeze, and Abbas coming back with "absolutely not, we'd rather have a double-handful of prisoners!"

I'll tell you honest, if that happened, I missed it. So please. Show me?

[oberliner]

8. That is a great point

Makes no sense to me at all.

I guess with the current governing coalition in place over there, it should.

Odds of any kind of serious peace agreement with this group calling the shots appear to be slim to none.

[azurnoir]

4. like there's good will involved in the first place?

the Israeli government releases and then rearrests for the slightest infraction and by disallowing these released prisoners to participate in any political activity Israel gives itself ample excuse

and in the mean time

Israel's occupation supporters (even those who do not like the term settlement) will rend, moan, point the finger of shame and outrage because the prisoners families and communities welcome them back