An IDF military court rejected government arguments Wednesday and ordered the release of Aziz Dweik, the Hamas Speaker of the Palestinian Authority legislature. His jail sentence of three years for ties with Hamas had given Israel an additional bargaining chip for negotiating the release of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit.
The Israeli government lost its bid to keep Dweik in jail until the end of his term. He has served 36 months in jail but was to be released in the near future for administrative reasons, according to military spokesmen.
Israeli security and military forces rounded up Dweik, a resident of Hevron, and dozens of other Hamas politicians in 2006 following the terrorist attack that killed two soldiers and left Shalit in captivity without any contact with family or even the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The arrests of the Hamas members crippled the PA Legislative Council, dominated by Hamas.
Dweik’s wife Umm Hisham told the Bethlehem-based Ma'an news agency that she was “surprised” by the court decision. An independent Gaza political leader said the release might be a step towards reconciliation between Hamas and the rival Fatah faction, led by PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.
Officials said he probably will be released by Sunday or before the beginning of the Jewish Sabbath on Friday night. Dweik also was ordered to pay a NIS 5,000 ($1,265) fine.
In an unrelated move, the PA is to release 20 Hamas prisoners on Thursday, according to Ma'an. The releases are aimed at improving the atmosphere between Hamas and Fatah towards upcoming unity talks in Cairo.