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http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/806765.html

Last update - 08:36 28/12/2006

"Israel to impose limits on bank accounts of security prisoners"
By Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondent

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Israel will impose limits on the transfer of funds from the territories to Palestinians held in its prisons for security-related offenses, starting on February 1.

According to the new rules, the maximum sum per month each such inmate may receive will be NIS 1,300. In addition, control of funds distribution will no longer be in the hands of the prisoners' leadership, but will be handled by the prison authorities.

The adoption of the new rules is angering the Palestinian inmates.

The decision to alter the regulations governing money transfers was made following a number of meetings in recent months between representatives of the Justice Ministry, the Shin Bet security service, the Israel Prison Service and the Postal Bank, whose branches are used for inmates' accounts.

The law passed by the Knesset about a year and a half ago that forbids funding of terrorist activity served as catalyst for the start of the talks. The transfer of funds to militants held for terrorist activities, even after the fact, could be considered to be retroactive support for terrorist activities. The Postal Bank there were concerns that under the existing regulations on money transfers, it services would be considered as aiding and abetting terrorist activities.

Currently, there is no effective control over money transfers to security prisoners. These are received by the prisoners' leaders in the wings of various prisons, and depending on group affiliation, the funds are dispersed."