Arab-israeli released from jail after 40 years
Younis was convicted in 1983 for killing an Isr aeli soldier in 1980; t r oops gun down t wo Palestinians in West Bank
An Arab-israeli jailed for killing an Israeli soldier was released on Thursday ater serving 40 years, officials said, with Israel warning it would not tolerate celebrations glorifying “terror.” Maher Younis was released from Beersheba prison in southern Israel shortly ater dawn, the Palestinian Prisoners Club said.
Younis was convicted in 1983 of the 1980 murder of Israeli soldier Avraham Bromberg near Hadera in the north of Israel, on his way home from the occupied Golan Heights.
His death sentence was commuted to a 40-year jail term.
Hundreds gathered outside Younis’ family home in the northern Israeli village of Arara as the 62-year-old returned home, with a young woman in tears as she placed a garland of flowers around Younis’ neck.
The celebrations took place despite warnings from Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-gvir that police would intervene if Palestinian flags or chants supporting Younis took place.
“Waving terror flags and chants that the terrorist is a hero are illegal measures, so police are instructed to prevent them and if they happen, immediately disperse them,” Ben-gvir said earlier on Thursday.
Though there were no Palestinian flags visible, Younis was defiant.
“The authorities are trying to spoil the celebration,” Younis told reporters.
“The Palestinian flag is in our hearts and the homeland is in our minds. It is just an issue of appearances.” Younis is a member of Israel’s Arab minority, many of whom identify as Palestinians.
“Ater 40 years of captivity, his health is good and his nerves are solid,” his brother Nader Younis said.
His release comes two weeks ater his cousin Karim Younis was freed ater serving the same prison time for the same offence.
When Karim was released, he said he was “proud” of his actions, and was welcomed by hundreds of celebrating supporters waving Palestinian flags.
The scenes sparked a backlash in Israel, and several high-ranking Palestinian officials from Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah party had their
Israeli entry permits revoked ater atending the celebrations, sparking a diplomatic crisis.
Ben-gvir’s office said the minister had “instructed police to act firmly and with determination against the phenomena of terror and support for terror we saw the other week” during Karim’s homecoming.
Separately, Israeli troops shot dead two Palestinians, one a teacher and one a gunman, in the occupied West Bank on Thursday during a raid in the flashpoint city of Jenin, Palestinian medics and a witness said.
The Israeli military said its forces had come under heavy fire by Palestinian gunmen during a counter-terrorism operation in Jenin on Thursday and had returned fire.
Asked about the teacher’s death, a military spokesperson said the incident was under review.
“It should be noted that the IDF (Israel Defence Forces) does not intentionally fire toward civilians,” the spokesperson said.
The Palestinian Health Ministry confirmed the death of the teacher and of the gunman, who was later identified by the Palestinian Islamic
Jihad group as one of its members.
Farid Bouaqneh, 31, son of the 57-year-old teacher Jawad Bouaqneh, said the gunman was shot outside the family house and that he and his father went out to help the man.
“My father went out to help the man, to provide first aid,” Bouaqneh said.
“We dragged him (the gunman) inside and my father was shot,” Bouaqneh said, pointing at his upper body while standing at a doorway with a blood-stained floor. One Israeli soldier was wounded, the military said.
US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan was expected to meet on Thursday with Israeli and Palestinian leaders and stress Washington’s commitment to the two-state solution, spokesman John Kirby said on Wednesday.
Violence in the West Bank has surged over the past year, following stepped-up raids by Israel in response to a spate of Palestinian street atacks in its cities.
At least 17 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank since Jan.1.