Posted on 08/20/2008 5:44:31 AM PDT by SJackson
AMMAN (AFP) - Four Jordanian prisoners handed over by Israel last year to complete their life sentences in the kingdom were released from a jail north of the capital Amman on Wednesday.
The four, who were convicted of killing two Israeli soldiers in November 1990 four years before Israel and Jordan signed a peace treaty, received a hero's welcome from relatives as they walked out of Qafqafa prison carrying Jordanian flags.
Jordan's Islamist-dominated trade unions said they were planning a festival later on Wednesday to celebrate the release of the prisoners, who were transferred by Israel in July 2007 in a goodwill gesture to King Abdullah II.
Under Jordanian law, a life sentence is equivalent to 25 years in prison and a "year" of jail in the kingdom comprises just nine months.
According to police, the four men were freed after serving three-quarters of their sentences because they had exhibited good conduct.
The trade unions had joined with members of parliament and journalists in campaigning for the men's release after Israel freed all its Lebanese prisoners in an exchange with the Shiite militant group Hezbollah last month.
==== Jordan: 4 Jordanians being transfered freed if Israel releases similar prisoners or after 18 months whichever comes first ARCHIVES July 4, 2007
[Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA: Not only did Prime Minsiter Ehud Olmert deceive the Israeli Supreme Court by not advising that the Jordanain murderers serving life sentences could be released by Jordan after 18 months, it turns out after the court ruled that the murderers could be released the moment Israel releases anyone convicted for a "similar case".
Jordan, Israel reach understanding to bring home four Jordanian prisoners jailed in Israel www.petra.gov.jo/nepras/2007/Jul/05/11000.htm
Amman, July 4, 2007 (Petra - Jordan News Agency) Foreign Minister Abdel Ilah al-Khatib said the Jordanian government saved no effort to reach an understanding with the Israeli government to release four Jordanian prisoners and transfer them to Jordan to complete their prison term.
"The Jordanian government diligent efforts gave fruit to settle the issue of the four Jordanian prisoners, who were jailed in Israel before the signing of the peace treaty between the two countries," said a Foreign Ministry statement on Wednesday.
According to the understanding the four prisoners Sultan Taha al-Ajluni, Amin Abdel Karim al-San'e, Khaled Abdel Razzaq Abu Ghalyun and Salem Yousef Abu Ghalyun, will be sent back to Jordan to ease their suffering in Israeli jails and to enable them to keep in touch with their families and relatives.
"The understanding states that the four prisoners could be freed after spending the remaining 18 months of their prison term in Jordan or if the Israeli authorities release other prisoners, who are convicted of similar cases, said the statement.
The understanding was reached after completing Israeli legal and administrative procedures under Israeli law, it added.
Releasing the four prisoners is part of the government's unceasing efforts to free all Jordanian prisoners in Israel the statement noted. This has been the best possible deal to be reached with the Israelis for the present time, Khatib told Petra. It is a staged solution to free them later on, he noted.
High Volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel. or WOT [War on Terror]
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Jordan has jusr re-recognized Hamas. The Arabs will be getting frisky again..
I’m about as surprised by this event as I am about the sun rising every day. The usual from the “religion of peace”. SSDD
Thanks C from E.
Iran continues to train Shia terror groups for attacks in Iraq
longwarjournal | August 15, 2008 | Bill Roggio
Posted on 08/15/2008 8:32:46 PM PDT by flyfree
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2062756/posts
Reminds me of how Israel releases Pali criminals to the PA & act shocked when they see them walking in & out of “prison” as they please.
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