Israeli Arab Minister Raleb Majadle made sure that convicted murderers and other Arab prisoners received packages containing sweets, coffee, dates, grapes and olive oil for the Muslim holiday of Eid el-Fitr last week.
The Culture, Science and Sports Minister visited the Gilboa Prison, where a majority of the prisoners are guilty of terrorist attacks against Jews, after securing approval from Public Security Minister Avi Dichter and the Israel Prison Service Commissioner.
Prior to his visit, Majadle’s office contacted the IPS to ensure authorities would transfer the holiday food packages to the 800 prisoners at the facility. While there, the Labor party minister inspected the conditions in which the security and criminal prisoners are housed.
“From his first day at the Knesset, the minister has been visiting Israeli detention facilities on a regular basis in order to study their conditions closely,” explained a statement issued by the office of the Culture, Science and Sports Minister.
“Every year, ahead of the holidays, the minister makes sure certain that the Arab prisoners who are Israeli citizens receive food items for the holiday as he did in his latest visit. The minister has also instructed his office to work with the Israel Prison Service to help rehabilitate the prisoners through sport and culture-related activities.”
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert appointed Majadle as
Shortly after his appointment, Majadle refused to sing the HaTikva national anthem. "To the best of my knowledge, the law does not require me to sing the anthem, but to honor it. I fail to understand how an enlightened, sane Jew allows himself to ask a Muslim person with a different language and culture, to sing an anthem that was written for Jews only," he said in response to criticism by nationalist Knesset Members.