Sunday, October 16, 2011

Gilad Shalit swap: Israel names Palestinian prisoners




Israel's President Shimon Peres has begun the process of pardoning them, his office said.

They are set to be freed on Tuesday in the first phase of the deal. A further 550 prisoners are to be released after Sgt Shalit returns home.

Sgt Shalit was seized by Palestinian militants in 2006, aged 19.

The deal to release him was announced last Tuesday, following years of on-off negotiations.

The list of 450 male and 27 women prisoners included in the first phase of deal was released publicly early on Sunday morning.

A number of pro-Hamas websites had earlier reported some names, but this is the first official list.

Israelis who object to the swap have 48 hours to appeal to Israel's highest court to intervene, before the prisoners are freed.

Correspondents say the court is unlikely to stop the deal, which has broad public support.

However, there are some Israeli groups that oppose the transfer.

One, the Almagor Terror Victims' Association, said the deal dishonoured victims of attacks and would lead to more kidnappings and violence.

It has filed a High Court petition saying the timetable does not allow the victims enough time to scrutinise the list.

Many of those to be freed are Palestinians who were jailed for plotting suicide bombings or shooting attacks.