What Do You Think?

[Arianna_Ludlam]

isn't it odd how members of "honest trustworthy religion of peace" expect non-muslims to treat Muslim prisoners and inmates humanly, allow visits, legal counsel, etc. yet Muslims do not see a need to do the same with non-muslim prisoners that they detain.

It is just another case Islam makes against itself. showing it's true colors.


copied from:
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/145176


Published: 06/24/11

Red Cross: Hamas' Behavior Totally Unacceptable

by Gavriel Queenann

The International Commitee of the Red Cross, whose demand Hamas provide proof of life for abducted Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit was shot down Thursday, told reporters Hamas' conduct in the matter is "totally unacceptable."

Schalit was kidnapped from the Israeli side of the Gaza security fence in June 2006 by Hamas terrorists after they tunneled into an IDF post. Two Israeli soldiers were killed during the abduction. Schalit has since been held incommunicado by Hamas in Gaza.

The last proof of life for Schalit came in October 2009 when Hamas released a tape of Schalit in exchange for terror-prisoners being held in Israeli jails. Israel's government has since refused to release more prisoners.

"The total absence of information concerning Mr. Schalit is completely unacceptable," said the ICRC Director-General Yves Daccord.

"The Shalit family have the right under international humanitarian law to be in contact with their son," he added.

The ICRC says its repeated requests for Hamas to "permit Schalit to exchange family news with his loved ones,” and its numerous requests for access to him, have been denied by Hamas.

"Hamas has an obligation under international humanitarian law to protect Mr. Shalit's life, to treat him humanely and to let him have contact with his family," Daccord insisted.

ICRC requests for access to prisoners are usually made in private due to the sensitive, precarious position prisoners like Schalit are often in. Thursday's public request was an uncharacteristic departure from the organizations normal practices.

ICRC Tel Aviv spokesman Ran Goldstein said the Red Cross decided to mount a public campaign due to growing concern over Schalit's health and well-being.

On Thursday Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said he would remove privileges for terror-prisoners exceeding strict legal obligations in response to Hamas' decision.

"The party is over," Netanyahu said.

[Arianna_Ludlam]

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/145151

Published: 06/23/11

Red Cross to Hamas: Prove Shalit is Alive!

by Hillel Fendel

Marking the 5th anniversary of Gilad Shalit’s capture by Hamas, the International Red Cross (ICRC) has now, for the first time, called on Hamas to prove that he is still alive.

Shalit was 19 when he was captured on June 25, 2006 by Hamas terrorists, only a few months after he began his three-year compulsory IDF service. He was serving at the time on Israel’s border with Gaza, when several terrorists tunneled under the border, killed two soldiers, and abducted Shalit into Gaza. His whereabouts have been unknown ever since.

“Because no sign of life has been had from Shalit for nearly two years,” the Red Cross announced today, “we demand that Hamas provide proof that he is still alive.”

Hamas has already rejected the call, saying that the Red Cross should not intervene in Israel's "security games."

Activists for Shalit protested outside ICRC offices in Tel Aviv several days ago, demanding that the organization take action in response to not being allowed to visit Shalit. Last year, the Red Cross actually provided Hamas members with asylum in its own offices.

Hamas has demanded the release of 1,000 convicted terrorists, including murderers, in exchange for Shalit. The Netanyahu government, like the Olmert government before it, refuses to cave in to these demands, choosing to protect its citizens from terrorist attacks that are likely to be carried out tomorrow by murderers released today. This position is not absolute, however; the government has hinted that it would consider paying a somewhat lower price - in terms of numbers of released terrorists - in exchange for Shalit.

Yoel Shalit, Gilad’s brother, is to graduate this evening from the Technion University. He will receive his B.A. in Computer Science.

[Arianna_Ludlam]

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/128882


Published: 12/16/08, 8:32 AM

Prison Services Official: Terrorists in One Big Summer Camp

by Maayana Miskin

Terrorists imprisoned in Israel live in “one big summer camp for thousands of prisoners.” So said a senior Prison Services official quoted Tuesday in Maariv. The official called for tougher conditions in Israeli jails.

"I could not hold back any longer... I see Gilad Shalit rotting in captivity, crouched in some darkened cellar with no visits, no reasonable living conditions, without seeing the light of day, while in contrast, in our prisons its one big summer camp,” the official said in explanation of his media interview. “Some of [the terrorists] are lowly murderers who express no regret. They eat, drink, study, enjoy excellent conditions. It's shocking.”

The government could free Gilad Shalit by taking simple steps to make prison less pleasant for terrorist inmates, the official explained, adding, “I'm saying this from experience.” Israel's enemies believe time to be on their side, he said. They know that as time passes, pressure to release Israeli hostages will increase and Israel will be willing to give up more, while they face no such immediate pressure to free terrorists.

Meat, Cigarettes, and 12 TV stations
The official listed some of the privileges granted to terrorist inmates in Israel. Terrorists are granted three hours a day to wander the premises, where they socialize together and even play games. The prison provides ping-pong tables, basketball courts, soccer fields and backgammon sets.

Terrorist prisoners receive meat and fish on holidays, and are allowed to purchase 1,200 shekels worth of food each month in the prison canteen. Many buy meat, soda, candy, cigarettes and similar items. Most prisoners apparently get money to buy luxury items from the terrorist groups they represent, the source said.

"Did you see how Samir Kuntar went back to Lebanon? Puffed up like a balloon, and it's no surprise,” he added. “They enjoy good meals all day, with all the extras. You know what? A prisoner like that, when he gets released and returns to Gaza, his quality of life drops.

"Courts. Did you know they appeal every day? Hundreds of appeals each year. Maybe more,” the official continued. The appeals are funded by Israeli taxpayers, he said.

The prisoners each have a television set in their cell that receives 12 channels. The channels include programming in Arabic. According to the official, some of the Arabic-language programming includes stations hostile to Israel—provided at taxpayer expense.

Inmates are allowed to keep personal items in their cell, including the food and cigarettes they purchase, large quantities of books and more. They are allowed to pursue academic studies, and many complete degree programs while in jail. “Whoever wants a degree just has to kill a Jew or carry out an attack. He'll get a degree, live like a king on the Israel taxpayer's dime, until he gets released in the next deal.”

While terrorists are supposed to be separated from visitors by a sheet of glass, in reality they are allowed to see their young children in person. Their families bring blankets and other items from home. Female terrorists are allowed to keep very young children with them in prison.

No need to violate conventions
With all the above privileges, terrorists have no need to hurry, the official concluded. “Why rush? Time is on their side, and the conditions are excellent.” Only if all the privileges are canceled and Israel provides terrorists with nothing more than basic living conditions and visits with the Red Cross will terrorist groups “understand there's a price” and work to exchange terrorists for Shalit, he said. “If you end their visitation, cancel the special food, cut them off from the media, it'll set Gaza on fire within two weeks.”

Israel can significantly reduce the quality of life in its prisons without violating international agreements, the official said. “We've held discussions about this. It's true.” Cutting privileges could lead to prisoner violence, “but we can deal with that,” he said.

Dichter: We're not terrorists
Public Security Minister Avi Dichter's publicist responded to the Maariv report and rejected the official's call to cancel privileges. “The state of Israel is not a terrorist organization. Israel must act according to international agreements.”

[Arianna_Ludlam]

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/145165


Published: 06/23/11


Netanyahu: "The Party is Over" for Terrorist Prisoners

by Gavriel Queenann


Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said benefits and privileges enjoyed by terrorists in Israeli prisons would be revoked following Hamas' refusal Thursday to allow the International Red Cross to visit kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit.

“I have decided to change Israel’s policy toward terrorists siting in Israeli jails," Netanyahu said at the closing event of the Israeli President's conference.

Netanyahu said he was committed to upholding Israeli and international law and conventions, but not exceeding their strict requirements. A bill was previously proposed to worsen prison conditions for terror prisoners, but was rejected by the Netanyahu government.

"We are not committed to anything beyond that. As such the magnanimous conditions in the Israeli jails will end,” Netanyahu explained.

Netanyahu did not provide a comprehensive overview of the changes he intends to implement vis-a-vis terrorist prisoners. However, he did say he planned to stop the “absurd practice" of allowing “murderers in jail” to sign up for advanced academic degrees.

“There will be no more Masters' for murder, or doctors of terror,” Netanyahu said, generating loud applause and cheers from the conference attendees. “That party is over.”

“I believe that if we all place public, political pressure on Hamas, we will advance Gilad’s release,” Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu also praised leaders in the US, France, Britain and Italy who in recent days demanded that Hamas let the Red Cross visit Schalit.

Hamas last week rejected an unprecedented deal from Egypt, Israel, France, and Germany for Schalit's release.

Earlier on Thursday Hamas dismissed an appeal by the ICRC to provide proof of life for Gilad Schalit.

"The Red Cross should not get involved in Israeli security games aimed at reaching Schalit. It should take a stand that results in ending the suffering of Palestinian prisoners," Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters.

In an uncharacteristic public appeal, the ICRC said said Schalit's family had the right under international law to be in contact with their 24-year-old son, held incommunicado since his capture on June 25, 2006.

"Because there has been no sign of life from Mr. Schalit for almost two years, the ICRC is now demanding that Hamas prove that he is alive," the Geneva-based ICRC said.

The ICRC also reiterated its long-standing request to visit Schalit in custody.

"The total absence of information concerning Mr. Schalit is completely unacceptable," ICRC Director-General Yves Daccord said in a statement.

"We don't know anything about his conditions of detention. But from information available to us we have serious concerns about his fate," Jean-Pierre Schaerer, head of the ICRC delegation in Israel, told Reuters.

"He is completely isolated."

[Arianna_Ludlam]

http://arabnews.com/middleeast/article460462.ece



Israel targets Palestinian prisoners after Hamas rejects ICRC's demand


By MOHAMMED MAR’I
ARAB NEWS

Published: Jun 24, 2011

RAMALLAH / JERUSALEM: Israel’s prime minister said Thursday that the government will withhold privileges from Palestinian prisoners because Hamas has rejected a Red Cross appeal to visit a long-held Israeli soldier.

Benjamin Netanyahu did not offer many details. He told a conference, “I stopped that absurd procedure whereby terrorists in Israeli prisons who murdered innocent people register for academic studies. ... There won’t be M.A. students for murder or doctoral candidates for terror,” according to The Associated Press. Earlier Thursday, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) asked to visit Sgt. Gilad Shalit, who has been held captive by Palestinian resistance fighters linked to Hamas for five years.

Meanwhile, the Hamas movement on Thursday rejected the demand to provide proof that kidnapped Israel soldier Gilad Shalit is still alive.

Ismail Radwan, a Gaza-based Hamas spokesman, said that his movement “refuses to respond to this call.”

On early Thursday, ICRC said in a public appeal that Shalit’s family had a right under international humanitarian law to be in contact with their son. Shalit is still held in Hamas captivity since 2006. In October 2009, Hamas released a short video for Shalit in exchange for the release of 20 Palestinian women.

“Because there has been no sign of life from Mr. Shalit for almost two years, the ICRC is now demanding that Hamas prove that he is alive,” the Geneva-based organization said.

Radwan said that the “ICRC should have talked about the suffering of 7,000 Palestinian prisoners inside Israel.”

He added that the Israeli government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blocks Shalit’s release by ignoring Hamas’ demands.

Palestinians threw eggs at the ICRC office in Gaza on Thursday to protest its demand.

Dozens of angry protesters also chanted slogans against the ICRC and ripped down and destroyed the Red Cross sign over the office.

Since December 2009, Egypt, Germany and France had failed to finalize the prisoners’ swap deal for the release of Shalit in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. The failure is due to differences between Hamas and Israel.

Hamas wants Israel to free up to 1,000 Palestinians in Israeli prisons in exchange for the release of Shalit, and the Palestinian movement has reportedly presented a list of 450 names in Israeli prisons.

Israel also objects to freeing Israeli Arab prisoners as well as several Hamas military wing leaders. Another issue yet to be settled is Israel’s demand to deport almost 100 of the 450 “heavy” prisoners set to be released in the deal.