On August 18, 2008, Israel announced that they would release 199 Palestinian inmates as a gesture of goodwill to the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas. Said al-Atba is one of the prisoners scheduled to be released. Atba has served 32 years of a life sentence. He was convicted on charges of planting a bomb, illegal military training and belonging to a banned group. Atba is considered to be a symbol for the prisoners by the Palestinian public.The Guardian: Israel to Free Longest Term Palestinian Prisoners (August 19, 2008)
Who Will Be Released?
- Approximately 50% of the prisoners on the release list would have completed their sentences some time during the next yearReuters UK: Israel Publishes List... (August 18, 2008)
- 43 out of the 199 on the list had at least five more years on their sentenceReuters UK: Israel Publishes List... (August 18, 2008)
- Four of the prisoners to be released are womenReuters UK: Israel Publishes List... (August 18, 2008)
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The names of the prisoners to be released was published in Hebrew in the afternoon of August 18, 2008PNN: List of 200 Names (August 18, 2008)
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Muhammad Abu Ali was the second most prominent name on the list after AtbaPNN: List of 200 Names (August 18, 2008)
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