JERUSALEM, March 10 (JTA) — Israel is preparing for a possible prisoner amnesty linked to the Jewish state’s 50th anniversary. Representatives from the Justice Ministry and the President’s Office met this week to discuss how to process the cases of some 6,300 prisoners, not including security prisoners, who will be up for review. The Israeli daily Ha’aretz reported that under a new proposal the state would review all cases, not just those of prisoners who submit amnesty requests. Officials would also establish criteria for granting pardons or commuting sentences. The question of whether to grant a general amnesty as part of Israel’s jubilee commemorations has been widely debated. While the criteria for granting amnesty have not yet been set, there is a proposal that would apply only to prisoners who have not committed serious offenses. Justice Minister Tzachi Hanegbi told Ha’aretz that he supports reviewing all the prisoner files and would work to find the resources necessary to review the cases. Several Knesset members have introduced bills calling for a general amnesty.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
