By YAAKOV LAPPINpalestinian prisoner freed 248 88(photo credit: AP)
Israel added a would-be suicide bomber to the list of 20 Palestinian female prisoners who were be released on Friday in exchange for a videotape of captive IDF soldier St.-Sgt. Gilad Schalit, following an objection from Hamas.
Hamas said a prisoner released on Wednesday, 15-year-old Bra'a al-Malaki, of the West Bank, who tried to stab a soldier at a checkpoint in 2008, appeared on the original list of women to be released in the deal, despite having served out her prison sentence.
As a result, Israel added 32-year-old Ruda Ibrahim Yunes Habib of Gaza, convicted of attempting to infiltrate Israel from the Strip on a suicide bomb mission, to the list.
Habib, a mother of four, was arrested on May 20, 2007, at the Erez border crossing together with her 39-year-old cousin Fatma Zek, following intelligence from the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet).
The Shin Bet learned that Habib and Zek were planning to meet a terrorist operative from Ramallah inside Israel who was to provide them with suicide bomb belts. The women had undergone training with machine guns and explosives, the Shin Bet said.
Both women have been in custody awaiting a trial.
Zek, a mother of nine, will be released on Sunday, together with her two-year-old son, who was born in prison.
In an interview with Ma'ariv, Zek expressed surprise that she appeared on the list of prisoners who would walk away from jail.
Earlier Thursday, Red Cross officials arrived at the Sharon prison to meet with the prisoners going free on Friday.
The officials said they were meeting with the women to see whether they had "any special requests or fears ahead of their release." The officials added that Israeli authorities had asked them to make the visit.
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