US seeks extradition of former prisoner now living in Amman

The US Department of Justice announced on Monday that it has issued the Jordanian government with an extradition and arrest order for the former Palestinian prisoner Ahlam Al-Tamimi, originally from the occupied West Bank city of Hebron.

Former Palestinian prisoner Ahlam Al-Tamimi, originally from occupied Hebron

Al-Tamimi was arrested and indicted by the Israeli occupation authorities over claims that she drove a Palestinian suicide bomber who blew himself up in a nightclub in Jerusalem 16 years ago. Sixteen people were killed in the bombing, including Americans.

Although sentenced to 16 life terms and 250 years in prison, Al-Tamimi only spent 10 years behind bars before she was released in the Gilad Shalit prisoner swap deal agreed between Hamas and Israel in October 2011. She was then deported to Jordan and has been living there ever since as she holds a Jordanian passport. Sources close to her, though, said that her passport has been taken by the security services in Amman.

According to Israel’s Ynet News, Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security Mary B McCord and the Assistant Director in charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, Andrew Vale, have described Al-Tamimi as an “unrepentant terrorist”.

The Palestinian Safa news agency reported on Thursday morning that Jordan has rejected the American extradition request.