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06-03-2005, 04:43 PM
June 3, 2005
Israel Frees Nearly 400 Palestinians
The prisoner release completes a Feb. 8 promise and is made despite Israel's report that it had foiled a suicide bombing plot.
By Ken Ellingwood, Times (http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-mideast3jun03.story?page=1) Staff Writer
BEITUNIA, West Bank — Flashing victory signs and smiles, dozens of Palestinians were met by enthusiastic family members here Thursday as Israel released the last 398 of 900 prisoners it had promised months ago to set free.
The prisoner release, described by Israeli officials as a conciliatory gesture to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, came as the Palestinian leader said he felt fine after a minor heart procedure in Jordan a day earlier.
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Amid chants and a few bursts of celebratory gunfire, about 75 prisoners arrived in two buses at the Beitunia crossing, a town near Ramallah that was among five spots in the West Bank and Gaza Strip where Israeli authorities dropped off the prisoners. Israel had promised to release 400 prisoners, but two of them declined to be freed.
Despite outward jubilation, Palestinian officials and some of the prisoners criticized the move as a token action, complaining that many of those who were let go were near the end of their sentences. None had been involved in attacks that harmed Israelis.
Rights activists say that about 8,000 Palestinians remain in Israeli jails and that new arrests have kept the number stable even with the recent releases.
"I'm happy, but it's a short happiness. I left behind me 8,000 prisoners," said Wafa abu Asma, 28, who completed about a third of the 43-month sentence he received over a shooting incident.
At least half those freed Thursday had less than 11 months left to serve, and 45 were within two months of being released, said Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Assn., a Palestinian group.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had promised during a Feb. 8 summit with Abbas to free 900 Palestinians. The first group of 500 was released later that month, but Israel held off on the rest to underline its demand that Palestinian leaders take stronger action against militants.
Israel went ahead with Thursday's release even though officials said they had foiled a plot by the group Islamic Jihad to carry out a pair of suicide bombings in a Jewish neighborhood north of Jerusalem. The army and Shin Bet, Israel's domestic security agency, earlier this week arrested five Palestinians believed to have been involved in the plot, Israeli security sources said. Three more suspects were detained Thursday.
Authorities said the plot was made by an Islamic Jihad branch in the West Bank town of Tulkarm that also was responsible for the Feb. 25 bombing of a Tel Aviv nightclub that killed five Israelis.
A top Abbas aide called the release a positive step but said it did not meet the Palestinians' desire to have all the prisoners freed. Some of them have been in jail more than 20 years. In particular, Palestinian leaders and activists have called for the release of nearly 300 prisoners who have been held since before the 1993 Oslo peace agreements.
"The release gives confidence and hope in the peace process and moves it forward," said Tayeb Abdel Rahim, the Palestinian presidential secretary. "But unfortunately, Israel is releasing prisoners drop by drop. They should be released through a reasonable timetable that includes all the prisoners."
Most Palestinians consider the prisoners heroes in the battle against the Israeli occupation, and the issue has huge symbolic importance for their leaders. Palestinian officials said they should have had a say in compiling the list of prisoners who were to be released.
Israeli officials say that the remaining inmates include many who were involved in violent attacks against Israeli soldiers and civilians and therefore should not be released.
Israel said the prisoners were freed to help Abbas, a moderate who faces high public expectations and a strong challenge from the militant group Hamas in parliamentary elections scheduled for July.
"Israel has followed through on its commitments, and we hope the Palestinians also follow through on theirs, specifically in the prevention of terror against Israel," said David Baker, an official in Sharon's office.
Zalman Shoval, a foreign policy advisor to Sharon, dismissed Palestinian complaints that the prisoner release was inadequate.
"Anything we do — in any field, on any subject — will always be declared to fall far short of what they want," Shoval said. He said the figure of 900 prisoners was agreed upon at the February summit in Egypt.
"We're doing exactly what we committed ourselves to," he said.
Abbas and Sharon are scheduled to meet June 21, though the location has yet to be determined. It will be their first meeting since February.
In Amman, Abbas told reporters he felt fine after undergoing catheterization, and doctors said that no arterial blockages were found when an angiogram was performed. "Things are just fine and I'm in very good health," the Associated Press quoted Abbas as saying upon leaving the hospital in the Jordanian capital.
Abbas' aide, Abdel Rahim, said the president would return to Ramallah today.
He said Abbas, 70, went to the hospital for a checkup after suffering symptoms of exhaustion.
Abbas has traveled extensively in recent weeks, across Latin America and Asia, then to the United States for a visit with President Bush. On the way back, Abbas made stops in North Africa.
He has had past health problems, including a bout with prostate cancer.
Israel Frees Nearly 400 Palestinians
The prisoner release completes a Feb. 8 promise and is made despite Israel's report that it had foiled a suicide bombing plot.
By Ken Ellingwood, Times (http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-mideast3jun03.story?page=1) Staff Writer
BEITUNIA, West Bank — Flashing victory signs and smiles, dozens of Palestinians were met by enthusiastic family members here Thursday as Israel released the last 398 of 900 prisoners it had promised months ago to set free.
The prisoner release, described by Israeli officials as a conciliatory gesture to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, came as the Palestinian leader said he felt fine after a minor heart procedure in Jordan a day earlier.
ADVERTISEMENT
Rail Europe
Amid chants and a few bursts of celebratory gunfire, about 75 prisoners arrived in two buses at the Beitunia crossing, a town near Ramallah that was among five spots in the West Bank and Gaza Strip where Israeli authorities dropped off the prisoners. Israel had promised to release 400 prisoners, but two of them declined to be freed.
Despite outward jubilation, Palestinian officials and some of the prisoners criticized the move as a token action, complaining that many of those who were let go were near the end of their sentences. None had been involved in attacks that harmed Israelis.
Rights activists say that about 8,000 Palestinians remain in Israeli jails and that new arrests have kept the number stable even with the recent releases.
"I'm happy, but it's a short happiness. I left behind me 8,000 prisoners," said Wafa abu Asma, 28, who completed about a third of the 43-month sentence he received over a shooting incident.
At least half those freed Thursday had less than 11 months left to serve, and 45 were within two months of being released, said Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Assn., a Palestinian group.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had promised during a Feb. 8 summit with Abbas to free 900 Palestinians. The first group of 500 was released later that month, but Israel held off on the rest to underline its demand that Palestinian leaders take stronger action against militants.
Israel went ahead with Thursday's release even though officials said they had foiled a plot by the group Islamic Jihad to carry out a pair of suicide bombings in a Jewish neighborhood north of Jerusalem. The army and Shin Bet, Israel's domestic security agency, earlier this week arrested five Palestinians believed to have been involved in the plot, Israeli security sources said. Three more suspects were detained Thursday.
Authorities said the plot was made by an Islamic Jihad branch in the West Bank town of Tulkarm that also was responsible for the Feb. 25 bombing of a Tel Aviv nightclub that killed five Israelis.
A top Abbas aide called the release a positive step but said it did not meet the Palestinians' desire to have all the prisoners freed. Some of them have been in jail more than 20 years. In particular, Palestinian leaders and activists have called for the release of nearly 300 prisoners who have been held since before the 1993 Oslo peace agreements.
"The release gives confidence and hope in the peace process and moves it forward," said Tayeb Abdel Rahim, the Palestinian presidential secretary. "But unfortunately, Israel is releasing prisoners drop by drop. They should be released through a reasonable timetable that includes all the prisoners."
Most Palestinians consider the prisoners heroes in the battle against the Israeli occupation, and the issue has huge symbolic importance for their leaders. Palestinian officials said they should have had a say in compiling the list of prisoners who were to be released.
Israeli officials say that the remaining inmates include many who were involved in violent attacks against Israeli soldiers and civilians and therefore should not be released.
Israel said the prisoners were freed to help Abbas, a moderate who faces high public expectations and a strong challenge from the militant group Hamas in parliamentary elections scheduled for July.
"Israel has followed through on its commitments, and we hope the Palestinians also follow through on theirs, specifically in the prevention of terror against Israel," said David Baker, an official in Sharon's office.
Zalman Shoval, a foreign policy advisor to Sharon, dismissed Palestinian complaints that the prisoner release was inadequate.
"Anything we do — in any field, on any subject — will always be declared to fall far short of what they want," Shoval said. He said the figure of 900 prisoners was agreed upon at the February summit in Egypt.
"We're doing exactly what we committed ourselves to," he said.
Abbas and Sharon are scheduled to meet June 21, though the location has yet to be determined. It will be their first meeting since February.
In Amman, Abbas told reporters he felt fine after undergoing catheterization, and doctors said that no arterial blockages were found when an angiogram was performed. "Things are just fine and I'm in very good health," the Associated Press quoted Abbas as saying upon leaving the hospital in the Jordanian capital.
Abbas' aide, Abdel Rahim, said the president would return to Ramallah today.
He said Abbas, 70, went to the hospital for a checkup after suffering symptoms of exhaustion.
Abbas has traveled extensively in recent weeks, across Latin America and Asia, then to the United States for a visit with President Bush. On the way back, Abbas made stops in North Africa.
He has had past health problems, including a bout with prostate cancer.