Jerusalem- The Ministerial Legislative Committee today approved a law severely reducing the privileges enjoyed by Hamas prisoners incarcerated in Israeli jails. The Cabinet's sponsorship is expected to ease the bill's passage as it comes up for an initial vote in the Knesset on Wednesday.

 

The bill, known in Israel as the "Schalit Law," would reduce the privileges granted to members of the banned terrorist organization to the bare minimum required by international law. This move is widely seen as a tit-for-tat against Hamas for the kidnapping of IDF soldier Gilad Schalit in June 2006. Schalit has been held in Gaza for almost four years without visits from the International Red Cross.

 

Under the terms of the proposed law, Hamas security prisoners would be denied visits except by the Red Cross and lawyers until Schalit is freed.

 

Too late for Hamas legislator

 

The measure comes too late to be applied to Muhammad Abu Tir, however. The senior Hamas member, famous for his red-dyed beard, was incarcerated shortly after Schalit's kidnapping as the result of a massive IDF operation involving raids in several West Bank cities. During the operation, many of Hamas' top representatives in the Palestinian Authority were arrested.

 

Abu Tir was released from Israeli custody last Thursday and was informed by security services that he is to be expelled from Jerusalem. He has until June 19th to leave the city. Hamas has threatened revenge over the decision.