VARIOUS: Palestinian prisoners released by Israel arrive in West Bank

While Palestinian prisoners who were released from Israeli prison reunite with their families in the West Bank, a delay means that relatives in Gaza are still anxiously waiting. Israel transferred 57 Palestinian prisoners who were released from jail on Monday (October 1) to the occupied West Bank, but the release of 29 other prisoners who live in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip hit a snag. Families of jailed Palestinians welcomed their sons, brothers and fathers at the Beitunya checkpoint in the West Bank, one of many crossing points between Israel and the occupied territory. Israeli buses carried the freed men from southern Israel's Ktsiot prison to the checkpoint, and Palestinian buses drove them to their families. "I hope they will release all the Muslims. We want them to release all the prisoners who are facing life sentences," said one Palestinian woman who danced and sang as she awaited their arrival. The released men received an emotional greeting from relatives and supporters. "I can't describe my happiness. Thank God and thanks to Abu Mazen (President Mahmoud Abbas) who helped to release us. I hope all the prisoners will be released," said Jihad Sanin, one of the released prisoners. Later the men were taken to the Palestinian government compound in the city of Ramallah and some paid a visit to the grave site of late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat. But while West Bank families rejoiced with their loved ones, families in Gaza faced disappointment when the arrival of their relatives was delayed for an unknown time. In a surprise move, Israeli President Shimon Peres, a strong advocate of peacemaking with the Palestinians, did not sign all of the pardons for the Gaza residents and the group remained behind bars, Israeli media reports said. A spokeswoman for Peres declined to comment. Peres's signature was not required for the release of West Bank-based prisoners because the area is under military occupation and the men were freed in accordance with an order signed by an Israeli general. The freeing 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 say such amnesties encourage Palestinian violence. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert had promised to include Gaza residents in the release as part of his bid to bolster Western-backed President Mahmoud Abbas. All 87 West Bank and Gaza residents on the release roster were members of Abbas's Fatah or smaller secular factions who were jailed for attacks that did not kill Israelis. Olmert said last week they would have to forswear violence in writing. Fatah lost control of Gaza in June to Hamas Islamists, who reject peace efforts with Israel, including the Middle East conference planned for mid-to-late November under U.S. auspices. Fawzi Barhoum, a Hamas spokesman, said in Gaza City that while Hamas appreciates the release of the 89 prisoners, it represents only a tenth of the number of Palestinians still detained by the Israelis. Abbas's office welcomed the planned prisoner release but said more needed to be done on the issue. The last such gesture by Israel was on July 20, when some 250 prisoners, most of them from Fatah, went free.

ITN Source | October 1, 2007

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