Second PLC member released after seven years in Israeli detention

Date: 23 / 06 / 2009 Time: 21:16

[Ma'anImages] Hebron – Ma’an – Under the shadow of the freed PLC speaker, a second lawmaker, Jamal Hweil, made his way to his home city of Hebron Tuesday evening after serving a seven year prison sentence. Hweil was detained in 2002 following the Israeli invasion of Jenin, he was elected to the Palestinian Legislative Council while in Israeli custody. He was received in Hebron by Palestinian Minister of Prisoners Affairs Issa Qaraqi’a, Governor of Hebron Hussein Al-A’raj, and a number of Fatah leaders. Fatah Spokesperson Fahmi Za’arir congratulated Hweil on being released and called on the government to prioritize the issue of Palestinian prisoners in Israel’s custody. He reminded Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to remain adamant about not returning for Peace talks until the prisoners were free.