Bethlehem - Ma‘an - Palestinian security sources close to the Fatah-affiliated Al Aqsa Brigades have confirmed to Ma‘an that a list has been drawn up, comprising 178 names of "wanted" Palestinians, which Israel intends to pardon.
It is understood that all those to receive pardons, in any potential deal between the PA and Israel, will be from President Abbas‘ Fatah movement. The sources confirmed that two of the names on the list are Zakaria Az Zubeidi, an Al Aqsa Brigades leader from Jenin, and Kamal Ghanam, a prominent leader in the brigades in Nablus. Several other prominent leaders are said to be included on the list.
Analysts in the Israeli media are claiming that this deal aims to bolster President Abbas‘ standing within the West Bank – particularly given that those due to be pardoned are reported to be from across the West Bank – yet Palestinian sources suggest that the move will further isolate the Hamas movement, further raising tensions among the Islamic movement toward President Abbas‘ emergency government, due to be reappointed after the expiry of the 30-day "state of emergency" on Saturday at midnight.
Palestinian and Israeli officials are due to meet on Monday to discuss the list, allegedly containing a further 28 Fatah leaders which Israeli authorities are reportedly "not keen" to pardon.
Six years after being declared "wanted" by the Israeli military, Amjad Khillawi from Deheisheh refugee camp has reappeared in the camp, following Israel‘s announcement of the pardon.
The 38 year-old man has not had a hair cut in the last six years of hiding. Children of the camp attempt to salute and shake hands with him as he passes, but he says with regret, "I don’t know them, they were all were born after I disappeared".
Khillawi has two sisters in Israeli jails, and a brother injured by Israeli soldiers.
We asked him about the list of pardoned militants recently announced by the Israeli authorities, and his intentions for the future. With sadness in his voice, he expressed his regret that the list does not include all the "wanted" and the prisoners.
He told Ma‘an that the Palestinian security service contacted him, and urged him to register with one of the security centers, in compliance with the deal struck between Israeli authorities and the PA. He told us that he is complying with the deal "and the political leadership represented in President Abbas."
Ma‘an‘s exclusive interview with Khallawi will soon be televised.