 |
 |
 |
|
|
A Palestinian mother greets her son in Gaza (AP)
|
|
|
|
|
|
| By Israel Insider staff and partners February 21, 2005 |
|
| |
 |
| A masked Palestinian Hamas supporter stands next to children carrying mock rocket launchers during a demonstration calling for the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, in Gaza City, Gaza Strip, Friday Feb. 18, 2005. (AP) |
| |
As Israel freed 500 Palestinian prisoners in a good-will gesture Monday, officials said a terrorist released last year was killed during an attempted attack last week.
In the West Bank, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas won the backing of his Fatah movement for a new 24-member Cabinet after a stormy debate, clearing the way for approval of the new ministers by parliament later Monday.
The release of Palestinian prisoners was one of the gestures Sharon agreed to at his summit with Abbas earlier this month in Egypt. Convoys of buses carrying shackled inmates left Israel's desert prison camp of Ketziot around dawn Monday, and arrived at five drop-off points on the edges of the West Bank and Gaza Strip just before noon, military officials said. They were greeted by cheering crowds of relatives, who reached out to touch and hug them.
Suhail Abu Madala, 35, spent four years in prison and had three more years to serve when he was set free Monday morning.
"I cannot believe that I'm smelling the air of freedom, that I will see my family," Abu Madala said, choking back his tears after being reunited with brothers and sisters and his 12-year-old son, Mohammed. "Nothing can describe my joy and my feelings.
"But I left behind me brothers in jail who need to be released," added Abu Madala, who had worked as a policeman before his arrest in the West Bank. "If were are talking about a new era, prisoners should be freed. We hope that peace will prevail between the two nations.
Those freed had not been involved in fatal attacks on Israelis, though media reported that scores were involved in unsuccessful attacks.
Israel has promised to release 400 more prisoners within the next three months. A joint Israeli-Palestinian ministerial committee will decide which prisoners will be released in the second round. Israel is resisting Palestinian demands to free those serving long terms, including for attacks on Israelis.
Fourteen buses, escorted by police and ambulances, were seen leaving the military prison camp at Ketziot in the southern Negev desert near the border with Egypt. The prisoners were released to five dispersal points: 53 were released at Beitunya near Ramallah, 169 at Berotayim near Tulkarm, 105 at Tarkumiya near Hebron, 137 at Salem outside Jenin and 37 at Erez in the Gaza Strip.
Prior to their release, every one of the prisoners, which included 380 prisoners and 120 administrative detainees, signed waivers promising to refrain from any terrorist activities in the future.
However, a former security prisoner released in January 2004 in the deal struck with Hizbullah to secure the return of the bodies of three soldiers and businessman Elhanan Tannenbaum was one of two gunmen shot and killed by soldiers last Tuesday night while attempting an attack at Har Bracha, The Jerusalem Post reported.
Atsem Mansour, 29, a Fatah Tanzim member from the Balata refugee camp was imprisoned in Israel between October 2001 and January 2004 for his involvement in terrorism. He was one of 462 security prisoners released in exchange for Tannenbaum and the bodies of Staff-Sgts. Benny Avraham, Adi Avitan and Omar Sawayid.
The AP contributed to this report.
|
|
 
|
|
|
|
Click on the blue headline to read a Talkback comment and respond to it. Click on the  icon to send a private email to the talkback writer. The icon appears only if the writer has decided to be contacted. If no popup window appears, please make sure your popup blocker allows israelinsider.com.
|
|
| |
|
|
