">Forum Views ()
">Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Israel limits privileges of Hamas prisoners
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
Yahoo! Search
Search:
Sign InNew User? Sign Up
News Home -
Help
Navigation
Primary Navigation
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
Africa
Europe
Latin America
Middle East
North America
Search
Search:
Israel limits privileges of Hamas prisoners
Reuters - 2 hours 59 minutes ago
By Joseph Nasr
ADVERTISEMENT
JERUSALEM - Israel's cabinet decided on Sunday to withhold Hamas prisoners' leisure and educational privileges until the Islamist group frees a captive Israeli soldier in the Gaza Strip, government officials said.
Egypt is trying to broker a prisoner exchange deal between Israel and Hamas that will secure the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for soldier Gilad Shalit, who was captured in a cross-border raid by Gaza militants in 2006.
Some 11,000 Palestinians are held in Israeli jails, including some 4,000 Hamas members, Israeli officials said.
Israel is holding 48 lawmakers and cabinet ministers from Hamas, an Islamist group that is classified under Israeli law as an illegal organisation. Thirty-six were tried by Israeli courts and another 12 have been held without trial.
Under a proposal approved by the cabinet, Hamas inmates will be denied access to television, radio, newspapers, telephones and online education, and their jail canteen allowances will be reduced. Israel will also limit the number of family visits the prisoners are allowed each month, the government officials said.
Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann said the restrictions would not breach international law and Israel would continue to allow Red Cross workers to visit Palestinians held in Israeli jails.
Israel Radio reported that Palestinian prisoners had threatened to launch a hunger strike in protest at the move.
Hamas spokesman Mushir al-Masri said the Israeli decision was "provocative and cheap" and would not force the group to soften its demands of Israel in any prisoner exchange deal.
PUBLIC PRESSURE
The measures came amid increased public pressure on the government to secure Shalit's release and calls by ministers that Israel halt Red Cross visits to Hamas inmates until the Islamist group allowed similar visits to the captive soldier.
Political commentators said the move was also aimed at increasing pressure on Hamas in the brokered talks.
The measure was approved during outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's last cabinet meeting. A new government headed by Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu's rightist Likud party was due to be sworn in on Tuesday.
Olmert has intensified efforts to secure Shalit's release before the end of his term but the indirect, Egyptian-mediated talks have shown no apparent sign of progress.
Israel has agreed in principle to the idea of releasing hundreds of Palestinians convicted of violent attacks against Israelis but it has voiced reservations about some of the inmates Hamas wants freed.
Hamas has demanded the release of 1,400 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Shalit. Israel has repeatedly recovered both captured hostages and remains of slain soldiers from its conscript army through massively lopsided swaps.
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
Recommend this article
Average (0 votes)
Sign in to recommend this article »
Most Recommended Stories »
Related Articles: World
Israel says Hamas arms smuggling has resumedAP - 57 minutes ago
US bank bailout fund down to $135 blnAFP - 58 minutes ago
Troops and militiamen clash in BaghdadAFP - 1 hour 3 minutes ago
Iraqi troops round up Sunni fighters in BaghdadAP - 1 hour 3 minutes ago
It's time to green this old (White) House _ againAP - 1 hour 12 minutes ago
Most Popular – World
Viewed
Hot tea linked with throat cancer
Scientists see asteroid hurtle to Earth
Pope 'publicly distorted' condom science: Lancet
Tens of thousands march in G20 protests
Soros sees risk of Britain needing IMF bailout
View Complete List »
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy
- Terms of Service
- Community
- Intellectual Property Rights Policy
- Help
Other News on Sunday, 29 March 2009 Afghan president welcomes U.S. strategy review
| International
|
G20 marches begin week of protests
| International
|
Spain may open torture probe of six Bush officials
| International
|
Nehru's great-grandson arrested over Muslim hate speech
| International
|
Clashes between Iraq forces and Sunni guards kill three
| International
|
After Putin, Russia's Medvedev flies warplane
| International
|
Israeli army disperses protest in West Bank town
| International
|
Asia dims the lights for Earth Hour
| International
|
Corsicans protest after murder verdict confirmed
| International
|
Madonna seeks to adopt baby girl Mercy in Malawi
| Entertainment
|
Cuba opens first big U.S. art exhibit since 1980s
| Entertainment
|
Bank of Japan begins 2-day policy board meeting
Israel official: Chances slim for prisoner swap
Kurdish rebel leader in Iraq vows not to disarm
Israeli army disperses protest in West Bank town
Tens of thousands march in G20 protests
Tension in Baghdad after arrest of Sunni leader
G8 to discuss 'human dimension' of crisis
Two killed as Baghdad police clash with anti-Qaeda group
Obama launches major economies climate forum
Clashes between Iraq forces and Sunni guards kill three
Most European countries back seal products embargo
Pakistan troops kill 26 militants in border zone
Discovery ends mission with successful landing
Relatives bury victims of Pakistan mosque bombing
Germany to buy stake in HRE: bank
Frigid North Dakota braces for record flood threat
Talks with Canadian auto union still deadlocked: Chrysler
Green light for Discovery to descend from orbit: NASA
Norway may back IMF with $4.5 bln: Strauss-Kahn
Antarctica to Pyramids _ lights dim for Earth Hour
Obama launches major economies climate forum
North Dakota: levee patrols amid record flood
Obama starts climate change forum for big economies
No more US dictating to Latin America: Biden
World switches off to save planet in "Earth Hour"
US military deaths in Iraq war at 4,262
US takes new climate change agenda to global talks
Cold weather eases flood threat in North Dakota
Top Spanish judge mulls Guantanamo probe: reports
EU ministers seek to reassure Balkan nations
Irish minister confident of EU treaty 'yes' vote
Police station in NW China attacked: state media
Hong Kong teens build 'terror' bomb: police
Abu Sayyaf militants reject Filipino troop pullout
Esquire Japan to end publication amid recession
Afghan, Pakistani leaders praise new US strategy
SKoreans spend record sum on education
Drunken brawlers attack Chinese police, injuring 2
S.Korea ruling party mulls public fund body-Yonhap
Campaign kicks off for key Malaysia by-elections
China insists on financial system overhaul
Spy satellites spot nose of NKorea rocket: report
Costa Rica comptroller contests China contract
Malaysian socialists barred over 'clenched fist'
World looks to India to spur global economy: PM
Aus govt: opposition's China concerns 'absurd'
Scores still missing after Indonesian dam bursts
'High School Musical 3' wins at Kids Choice Awards
A new personality cult rises in Turkmenistan
Sharks pose Sydney food-chain puzzle
Easy economics through the eyes of nurse Helga
World switches off to save planet in Earth Hour
| International
|
Graffiti gets biggest global outing to date
Romania: living at the municipal dump
Kids' Choice Awards winners
Obama to seek NATO support for Afghan plan
| International
|
G20 marches begin week of protests in Europe
| International
|
Cuba holds first US art exhibit in 50 years
Indonesia dam death toll rises to 93: official
Japanese enka star performs at DC festival
North Korea may also launch mid-range missile: paper
| International
|
Despite sour economy, Miami music conference a hit
Mexico asks U.S. to resist temptation of protectionism
| International
|
Former Guyana President Janet Jagan dies at 88
| International
|
Colombia rocked by father-daughter incest case
| International
|
Gates: Economic moves against Iran more effective
Arab summit to back Bashir, ease divide over Iran
| International
|
Erdogan's AK Party set to win in Turkish local vote
Iraqi forces encircle Sunni fighters after clash
| International
|
Taliban abduct 11 Pakistani policemen
| International
|
Gates says objectives in Afghanistan are narrowing
Madonna in Malawi for second adoption
Israel limits privileges of Hamas prisoners
Spain may decide Guantanamo probe this week
| International
|
US in spotlight as UN climate talks resume
Page Not Found |
AP Exclusive: UN suggests power-sharing for Kirkuk
Page Not Found |
One killed and seven wounded in Turkey vote violence
Hungary parties fail to pick new PM
| International
|
Troops and militiamen clash in Baghdad
Iraqi forces encircle Sunni fighters after clash
Obama team debuts at UN climate talks
US in spotlight as UN climate talks resume
Vexing computer worm to evolve on April Fool's Day
Prince performs three L.A. shows in one night
| Entertainment
|
Madonna in Malawi for new child adoption
| Entertainment
|
Scores still missing after Indonesian dam bursts
UN: Many Bangladesh children malnourished
Taliban abduct 11 Pakistani policemen
China-based network infiltrates computers
Filipino rebels warn US troops not to join combat
Seoul warns N. Korea over rocket launch
Popular snack in Myanmar tainted with chemical dye
Thai Airways to operate from one Bangkok airport
China on high alert in rural areas for child virus
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Madonna in Malawi for new child adoption
Prince performs three L.A. shows in one night
Chris Brown, Rihanna were no-shows at Kids' Choice
Indonesia's president campaigns in Aceh
Indonesian president woos voters in tense Aceh
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights