Israel Frees Golan Prisoner

Syria Media Report, 11-Jul-08

IWPR

Institute for War & Peace Reporting

Friday, 11 July, 2008

Israel Frees Golan Prisoner

Syria Media Report, 11-Jul-08

A Syrian held in an Israeli jail for 23 years was released on July 8, according to a report by Banias, an independent website run by Syrian Arabs in the Golan Heights.

Sitan al-Wali, who is from the Golan village of Majdal Shams, suffers from kidney cancer and was released because of deteriorating health. He told the website that he had hoped to be released along with all other prisoners, not because of his illness.

Thousands of people welcomed Wali when he arrived back at his village. Golan residents had pushed for his release in recent weeks.

There are still nine Syrian detainees held in Israeli prisons; some have been detained for more than 20 years.

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