Palestinian teenager jailed for slapping Israeli soldiers released
Jerusalem, July 29 : Palestinian teenager Ahed Tamimi, convicted for assaulting Israeli soldiers, was released on Sunday morning after serving an eight-month jail term, prison officials said.
Palestinian activists had described Ahed, 17, as a "symbol of resistance against Israeli occupation".
The teenager and her mother were arrested together in December 2017 with another relative -- 20-year-old Nour Tamimi -- after they were filmed slapping and kicking Israel Defence Forces (IDF) soldiers in their village of Nabi Saleh in the West Bank.
Ahed was sentenced in March to eight months in prison after a plea bargain, under which she pleaded guilty to one account of assault, one account of incitement, and two accounts -- unrelated to the December incident -- of obstructing soldiers. She also agreed to pay fine.
The Tamimi family and Palestinian activists are preparing a hero's welcome for Ahed and her mother in Nabi Saleh, Arab News reported.
Dozens of family members and supporters are expected to receive the two upon their release at an IDF checkpoint near Tulkarm and go in a convoy to Ramallah to place a wreath on the late President Yasser Arafat's grave.
Afterwards, the convoy will head to Nabi Salah where there will be a festive reception and in the evening a press conference will be held at their house.
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Those rejected by people trying to control Parliament: PM Modi
New Delhi (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday slammed the opposition, saying those who were rejected by people 80-90 times were trying to control Parliament by resorting to hooliganism for their own political gains.
Addressing reporters ahead of the start of the Winter Session of Parliament, Modi said such handful of people did not succeed in their intentions but people of the country observed their actions and punished them at an appropriate time.
Modi's remarks came days after the BJP-led coalition won the Maharashtra Assembly elections by a landslide, bagging 235 seats and relegating the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi to a distant 49 seats in the 288-member House.
Earlier, the BJP registered a surprise third consecutive victory in the Haryana polls, trouncing the Congress, which was billed as a pre-poll favourite.
"There should be a healthy debate in the Parliament but, unfortunately, certain individuals are trying to control Parliament for their own political gains, resorting to disruptions and chaos," Modi said.
"Though their tactics ultimately fail, the people watch their behaviour closely and deliver justice when the time comes," he added.
Modi said he had been repeatedly urging opposition colleagues, and some also agreed that Parliament should function smoothly.
"But those who have been continuously rejected by the public ignore the words of their colleagues and disrespect their sentiments and that of democracy," the prime minister said.
The Winter Session of Parliament began on Monday and is scheduled to continue till December 20.
