Published: Mar 9, 2010 22:51 Updated: Mar 9, 2010 22:51
RAMALLAH: Israel has granted amnesty to a group of 77 Palestinian fighters from the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, an offshoot of President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement, a Palestinian security source said Tuesday.
The source told Arab News that the 10 of the fighter received full pardon, 47 received partial pardon and the other 20 have been put on a probation period.
According to the sources, the 10 fighters have a complete freedom of movement in the Palestinian territories and beyond. The 47 militants are allowed to move freely in the West Bank and have to sleep only in their homes. The sources said that the last 20 militants would be restricted to move within their cities and have to sleep in a Palestinian security facility for a three-month probation period.
However, the source said that the 77 fighters were removed from Israel's most wanted lists.
The source said that the gesture was made in the framework of 2007-amnesty agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA).
Under the agreement, hundreds of wanted members of the Al-Aqsa Martyr's Brigades underwent a three-month probation period. Those who refrained from engaging in military activity against Israeli targets and surrender their weapons to the PA were pardoned according and removed from Israel's wanted lists.
However, since the signing of the agreement Israel has killed around 10 Al-Aqsa fighters who were on its amnesty list, claiming they returned to their military ways. A number of others were detained for the same reason.
Mahmoud Halabi, one of activists included in the list, confirmed the move. The Ramallah-based militant expressed his happiness over the move.
"I am very pleased that after years of Israeli persecution, concern and fear, I can live normally", Halabi told Arab News.
 He added that his ambition is to "live freely without the Israeli occupation like the world's peoples. We do not want to kill anyone."
Meanwhile, Israeli forces operating in the West Bank cities arrested four Palestinian youths.
Palestinian security sources said that the four were arrested near the cities of Hebron and Bethlehem.
Israeli security the four were three "wanted" and were taken to unknown locations for questioning by the Israeli intelligence agency Shin Bet. ¬
Loading comments ...