Israel Frees 334 Prisoners amid Palestinian Criticism

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, August 07, 2003

Israel Frees 334 Prisoners amid Palestinian Criticism

Israel on Wednesday freed a total of 334 Palestinian prisoners at five release points, four in the West Bank and one in the Gaze Strip.

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Israel on Wednesday freed a total of 334 Palestinian prisoners at five release points, four in the West Bank and one in the Gaze Strip.

While Israel described it as a good-will gesture to the Palestinians, the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) termed it as "theatrical step" and labeled it "a joke."

The first batch of the freed Palestinian prisoners, the first mass release since the implementation of the roadmap peace plan,crossed over Israeli army checkpoints to PNA controlled area shortly after 2:30 p.m. (1130 GMT) Wednesday, just as scheduled. At the Betunia checkpoint southwest of the West Bank city of Ramallah, some 70 Palestinians were first transported into an Israel-controlled detention center, and then handed over to the PNA officials.

Many of these newly freed prisoners could be seen kissing the ground while others flashed victory signs.

Israel approved the release of 443 Palestinians on Aug. 3, and the other 99 prisoners on the list will be set free later. Among them 50 were sentenced for criminal activities and 49 were detained for being in Israel without a permit.

Israeli security sources said some 180 of the 334 Palestinians freed on Wednesday were security prisoners who were serving their terms and the others were administrative detainees, none of the 339 involved in lethal attacks on Israelis.

Local media reported that the original number of prisoners to be released was set to be 339, but five prisoners had their releases revoked following a request to the Israeli Justice Ministry by an organization representing victims of Palestinian attacks."This release represents a powerful and realistic gesture of Israel's intention to follow the roadmap and secure a lasting peace with the Palestinians, and this shows that Israel is upholding its part of the peace process," said an Israeli military source.However, Palestinians have voiced disappointment over the list of the prisoners released, which is much smaller than expected.PNA Chairman Yasser Arafat has called the release a "deceit,"and his spokesman Nabil Abu Rdeineh said on Wednesday Israel "should release all the prisoners."

"They said they are going to release 400, and then they turn around and arrest 800," Arafat told reporters at his headquarters compound in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Monday.Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas called off a meeting with his Israeli counterpart Ariel Sharon, scheduled for Wednesday,mostly because of the dispute over the release list.Among those freed on Wednesday, most were sentenced to a maximum of two-year imprisonment and due to be released at the end of the year, and 10 of them would anyway have to be released this week.As a protest to Israel's "lack of seriousness," the PNA did not organize official welcome ceremonies for those freed.While attention is being paid to the newly-freed Palestinian prisoners, sources close to the Israeli army also revealed on Wednesday that Israel has arrested nearly as many Palestinians as it just released since the ceasefire was declared on June 29.According to the sources, an examination of the records since the ceasefire was declared shows that tThe Israeli army arrested 320 Palestinians during the period, and the number does not include the Palestinians arrested for being illegal in Israel.

Local observers said the prisoners issue has come to be a major sticking point to the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians for the present stage, even though the issue of prisoners' release is not part of the internationally-backed roadmap peace plan.

Israel is now holding at least 6,000 Palestinian prisoners, most of them accused of being involved in terrorism.

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