Thursday, April 2, 2009

Israel releases Hamas-affiliated PLC member

Date: 02 / 04 / 2009 Time: 22:01

[Ma'anImages]
Tulakarem – Ma’an – Israeli authorities released a Hamas-affiliated member of the Palestinian Legislative Council on Thursday after three and a half years behind bars.

Fathi Al-Qar’awi was being held in the Negev dentition center.

The Al-Qar’awi family said they are preparing to receive him in his house in Nur Shams refugee camp, east of the West Bank city of Tulkarem, where he is expected to arrive via Hebron.

Al-Qar’awi won legislative elections while he was detained in an Israeli; he was arrested on 25 September 2005 and released only to be detained again in 2006.

The arrest was viewed by many as a reprisal operation following the capture of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit by Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip during the summer of 2006.