JERUSALEM
Dozens of Palestinians turned out in the Old City of Jerusalem to celebrate the release of a prisoner by Israeli authorities.
"I was arrested during the 'Second Intifada' for throwing stones to Israeli soldiers and spent 12 years in jail," Wesam Kashor, 35, who was released by Israel on Thursday, told Anadolu Agency.
"Now, I want to get married and have a family God willing," he added.
In September 2000, a visit to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East Jerusalem by controversial Israeli politician Ariel Sharon triggered what later became known as the "Second Intifada" – a popular uprising in which thousands of Palestinians were killed.
Israel occupied East Jerusalem during the 1967 Middle East War. It later annexed the holy city in 1980 – a move never recognized by the international community – claiming it as the capital of the self-proclaimed Jewish state.
Kashor called on Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to pay more attention to the Palestinian prisoners languishing in Israeli jails and to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site for Muslims.
Waving Palestinian flags and chanting "Freedom, Freedom", joyful Palestinians carried Kashor on their shoulders to his home in the Old City.
Before going home, the freed prisoner visited the Al-Aqsa Mosque alongside many of the celebrators.
According to the Palestinian Prisoners' Society, around 5700 Palestinians – including 200 in administrative detention – continue to languish in Israeli jails.
Israel's policy of "administrative detention" allows it to hold Palestinian prisoners indefinitely without trial or charge. Administrative detention orders can range from one to six months in length and can be extended by Israeli military courts by up to five years.
The Israeli Army has arrested more than 500 Palestinians as part of a massive search campaign for three Israeli settlers, who went missing from a Jewish-only settlement in the occupied West Bank two weeks ago.
By Turgut Alp Boyraz
englishnews@aa.com.tr
