Will Jordanian prisoners in Israel complete sentences at home?
Questions arise as to whether Israel will send Jordanian prisoners to complete their prison sentences in their country, in an attempt to avoid releasing them in a possible prisoner exchange.
A number of Jordanian nationals who are held in Israeli prisons have been offered to complete their prison sentences in Jordan, Al-Monitor has learned from multiple Jordanian and Palestinian sources.
Palestinian head of the Commission of Prisoners Affairs Qadri Abu Bakr, which falls under the Ministry of Prisoners Affairs, confirmed the reports to Al-Monitor. “Two months ago, a number of Jordanian prisoners held in Israeli prisons were approached by Israeli prison officials with the offer to complete their sentences in their country. They received mixed reactions,” he said.
Abu Bakr noted that the Palestinian government “understands the humanitarian” aspect of the issue because many have not seen their family for years. He added, “We have said that the decision is up to the prisoners and their families. Our support and financial commitments to the prisoners from Jordan and the Golan Heights is exactly the same as that to the other Palestinian prisoners.”
Palestinian prison sources say 21 Jordanian citizens are held in Israeli prisons at present.
