Palestinians Want 2 Detainees Freed

(AP) ^ | Fri May 3, 1:01 PM ET | HADEEL WAHDAN

[Democrats are liars]

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) - The Palestinian Cabinet on Friday discussed the fate of two senior officials imprisoned as part of a U.S.-brokered deal that led to Yasser Arafat (news - web sites)'s release from Israeli confinement this week, and Palestinian officials said they expected the two to be freed soon.

Palestinian officials said that under the U.S. deal, the fate of Ahmed Saadat and Fuad Shobaki was left in the hands of the Palestinian legal system.

Israeli officials disputed the claim, saying they were assured by the United States that Saadat and Shobaki would remain locked up as a condition for freeing Arafat.

Israel had initially demanded the extradition of Saadat, leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), and Shobaki, a senior Arafat aide. Israel accuses Saadat of masterminding the assassination of Israeli Tourism Minister Rehavam Zeevi in October, and alleges Shobaki financed a large shipment of illegal weapons.

U.S. Embassy officials in Tel Aviv declined comment on whether the United States would permit the release of Saadat and Shobaki, who are being held, along with the four convicted Zeevi assassins, in a prison in the West Bank town of Jericho, with security experts sent by the governments of the United States and Britain supervising the detention.

However, officials close to the negotiations said parts of the deal had been left purposely vague to allow for a quick agreement on getting Arafat released from Israeli confinement at his headquarters in the West Bank town of Ramallah.

One official, asked whether it was possible Saadat and Shobaki could be freed soon, said he could not respond to hypothetical questions.

The six detainees were transferred Wednesday from Arafat's Ramallah headquarters to Jericho.

Arafat told Saadat just before his transfer to Jericho that he had nothing to worry about and that he would be released within 10 days, said a Palestinian official who participated in the meeting and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Neither Saadat nor Shobaki has been charged in Palestinian courts, while the four Zeevi assassins were convicted and sentenced last week by a makeshift tribunal in Arafat's compound, receiving terms ranging from one to 18 years.

Arafat told the Arab satellite TV station Al Jazeera on Thursday that there was no evidence against Saadat and Shobaki.

"Regarding Shobaki, the investigation has shown that he is innocent," Arafat said. "Saadat is the secretary general of the PFLP, the second largest faction in the PLO. We will deal with his issue through legal procedures and I have spoken about this with Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites) by phone. The investigation has shown that there is nothing against Saadat."

Palestinian officials said they expected the Palestinian attorney general to order Saadat's release in the coming days.

The Palestinian Authority (news - web sites) is under growing pressure to release Saadat. On Thursday, Arafat received a letter from all Palestinian political groups demanding Saadat's release.

On Friday, the Palestinian Cabinet met to discuss the fate of the two.

Israeli officials said they believed the United States and Britain would not permit the release of Saadat and Shobaki. "There is no suggestion that the Americans and the British see these two fellows as anything but prisoners," said Zalman Shoval, an adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (news - web sites).

"They have to be under lock and barrel until they are extradited to Israel for trial," Shoval said.

[sanchmo]

that didn't take long, did it?

[Lazamataz]

Palestinians Want 2 Detainees Freed

Wish in one hand and s**t in the other and tell me which one fills up first.

[Democrats are liars]

Friday, May 3, 2002

Widlanski/Media Line: ARAFAT INSISTS DFLP LEADER AND ARMS DEALER NOT IN CUSTODY

Widlanski/Media Line: ARAFAT INSISTS DFLP LEADER AND ARMS DEALER NOT IN
CUSTODY

By Michael Widlanski Friday, May 03, 2002

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat said Friday that two senior Palestinian
officials who had been besieged with in his office have now been released
from British custody in Jericho where they had been taken with four men who
carried out the murder of an Israeli cabinet minister.

"They are sitting in an office like me and you-honored and respected-and
they have complete freedom of movement," said Arafat in an exclusive
interview with Arab Satellite television channel Al-Jazeera.

Arafat was referring to Fouad Shoubaki, the primary arms purchaser of the
Palestinian Authority (PA) and Ahmad Saadat, the leader of the Popular Front
for the Liberation of Palestine, the organization which carried out the
assassination of Israeli Tourism Minister Rehav'am Ze'evi last year.

[headsonpikes]

"They have to be under lock and barrel..."

I can live with that! Make it a big barrel. LOL!

[fella]

Expect a well organized mob to surround jail in Jericho and maybe even storm it. You know "will of the people" stuff.

[Democrats are liars]

Arafat told Saadat just before his transfer to Jericho that he had nothing to worry about and that he would be released within 10 days, said a Palestinian official who participated in the meeting and spoke on condition of anonymity.

[Coop]

Oh, absolutely we'll turn them over!

Wait right there, and I'll go get them.

Just a sec...

Don't go 'way.

Be right back...

[Democrats are liars]

Palestinian officials said that under the U.S. deal, the fate of Ahmed Saadat and Fuad Shobaki was left in the hands of the Palestinian legal system.

WTF

[DSHambone]

Anyone see last night's Nightline? The remote control .50 cal sniper rifle with TV camera attached on the crane? When it barks some idiot of a Palestinian in the Church of the Nativity takes the dirt nap. Saadat and Shobaki better keep away from the windows.

[KSCITYBOY]

I hope it barks all night. There is no difference between bin ladens boys and the palestinians as far as I can see.

[monkeywrench]

"Palestinian officials said that under the U.S. deal, the fate of Ahmed Saadat and Fuad Shobaki was left in the hands of the Palestinian legal system.

WTF"

Hey, Democrats are liars---palistinians are liars!

[Diogenesis]

Classic Palestinian justice?

[Dales]

Yes, I find myself saying WTF to a lot of things the Palestinians claim.

[tomahawk]

If they walk, so will this Administration's credibility.

[Dales]

Palestinians are Democrats?

[B4Ranch]

They should have mounted a 105 up there.

[monkeywrench]

They both lie with impunity, palis can be delared dead and still get up and walk, while dems. can be dead and vote (close enough), both groups have terrible morals, manners, intentions, breath, etc.... In short, I think both groups belong to the same support group.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Expect a well organized mob to surround jail in Jericho and maybe even storm it. You know "will of the people" stuff.

Yep.

[toddst]

Expect a well organized mob to surround jail in Jericho and maybe even storm it. You know "will of the people" stuff.

If a Pali "mob" does form at the jail, I expect a couple of Israeli helicopter gunships may join the party, too. Just to sort of even things up - a bit!