Israel frees dozens of jailed Palestinian prisoners

Beitunya – Israel freed dozens of jailed Palestinians yesterday to try to bolster support for President Mahmoud Abbas against his Islamist rival Hamas ahead of a US-sponsored conference on Palestinian statehood.

After several hours’ delay, 57 prisoners were taken by bus from the desert stockade of Kitsyot to Beitunya, a military checkpoint on the West Bank boundary, where they were greeted by relatives and supporters. An additional inmate due for release to the West Bank was kept at Kitsyot for additional vetting, the Prisons Service said.Israel was scheduled to free 29 more prisoners from the Gaza Strip, but these were held back at the last minute.All 87 men on the release roster were members of Abbas’s Fatah or smaller secular factions who were jailed for attacks that did not kill Israelis.Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said last week they would be required to forswear violence in writing.”We are happy to see our sons freed, but we hope that prisoners with longer sentences will be freed as well,” said Mahmoud Ali, one of the Palestinians waiting at Beitunya.The release of prisoners is highly emotive for Palestinians, who see their nearly 11 000 brethren held in Israeli jails as fighters against foreign occupation.Many Israelis argue that such amnesties encourage Palestinian militants to strike again.Nampa-ReutersAn additional inmate due for release to the West Bank was kept at Kitsyot for additional vetting, the Prisons Service said.Israel was scheduled to free 29 more prisoners from the Gaza Strip, but these were held back at the last minute.All 87 men on the release roster were members of Abbas’s Fatah or smaller secular factions who were jailed for attacks that did not kill Israelis.Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said last week they would be required to forswear violence in writing.”We are happy to see our sons freed, but we hope that prisoners with longer sentences will be freed as well,” said Mahmoud Ali, one of the Palestinians waiting at Beitunya.The release of prisoners is highly emotive for Palestinians, who see their nearly 11 000 brethren held in Israeli jails as fighters against foreign occupation.Many Israelis argue that such amnesties encourage Palestinian militants to strike again.Nampa-Reuters