Release postponed for elected Palestinian official imprisoned after his win three years ago

18.06.09 - 16:10
Bethlehem / PNN - Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council Dr. Aziz Dweik was imprisoned by the Israeli government shortly after his electoral success.

After spending three years as a political prisoner Dr. Dweik was supposed to be released. Within a day of the announcement that he was getting out of prison came the news that the Palestinian official’s release was postponed. Israeli prosecutors are still looking for a case against him.
Upon winning the Legislative Council elections three years ago tens of Palestinian officials were imprisoned.

Ninety-nine members of local councils and parliament were held, most for having run and won on the Change and Reform ticket affiliated with the Hamas party.Dr. Aziz Dweik, speaker of the Legislative Council, is one of the last people held from that period.He may be returning home soon. Wednesday the Israeli Supreme Court rejected the prosecution's request for the continued imprisonment of the official.On Wednesday his 36 month sentence was up but the prosecution was looking for six more. An Israeli court ruled to imprison the speaker of Palestinian parliament along with a number of deputies and ministers from the Change and Reform bloc of the Hamas movement.