Minister of Prisoners' Affairs demands release of pre-Oslo detainees

Ma'an
Palestinian Minister of Detainees' and Prisoners' Affairs Issa Qaraqe demanded the release of 320 prisoners detained before ratifying the Oslo Accords in 1993, which consecutive Israeli governments have refused to release, according to a statement issued on Saturday.

“Israeli good will towards a Palestinian prisoner release deal would reveal the extent to which Israel’s intentions are honest in building a just peace with the Palestinians. The issue of prisoners cannot be subject to Israeli unilateralism such as imposing conditions and discriminatory rules,” Qaraqe said.

The minister noted that the issue of Palestinian prisoners is a focal and important requirement as outlined by President Mahmoud Abbas on Friday in his eight points to return to negotiations with Israel, which include a halt to settlement construction and policies carried out with the intent to separate Jerusalem from the occupied Palestinian territories.

The release of prisoners should be in accordance with a timetable relating to a final peace agreement within the next two years, he added, maintaining that Jerusalem detainees could not be exempt from any deal... Full story

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