The Palestinian Prisoner Society said on Monday that the Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) re-instated a previous life sentence on the ex-prisoner Yousuf Abu al-Khair 74 from Acre who was released in a prisoner exchange deal in 1983.
The Prisoner Society pointed out in a statement that Abu al-Khair left to Greece after he was released at the time as Israel withdrew his Israeli nationality and during the past years he was trying to regain his nationality to be able to reunite with his family.
It added that 10 days ago Abu al-Khair’s lawyer told him that he could return and when he arrived at the airport the IOA re-arrested him and issued a decision to re-instate his previous life sentence without giving his lawyer an opportunity to defend him.
The Society described this move as “dangerous” especially that the previous batches of prisoners who were freed in exchange deals were released unconditionally and after receiving full amnesty. In addition to this it noted the committee that examined the case was not competent to issue verdicts in cases over 34 years old.
On 23rd November 1983 a prisoner exchange deal took place between the Israeli occupation and Fatah Movement and witnessed the release of 4700 Palestinian and Lebanese prisoners from Ansar detention camp in southern Lebanon in addition to 65 others from the Israeli jails in exchange for the release of 6 Israeli soldiers.
