Israel to free long-serving Palestinian prisoners
Via the AP comes the news that ‘Israel said Monday it will free two of its most prominent Palestinian prisoners—a militant mastermind from the 1970s and a gunman elected to parliament while behind bars—among 199 inmates to be released as a goodwill gesture to embattled Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.’
Israel’s prisons service said the upcoming release would include Said al-Atba, who has served 32 years of a life sentence for planting a bomb, illegal military training and belonging to a banned group. Al-Atba, 57, is the longest serving prisoner held by Israel and he is widely seen by the Palestinian public as a symbol for the prisoners…
Also on the list Israel released Monday of the 199 prisoners set to be freed was Mohammed Abu Ali, jailed in 1980 for killing an Israeli settler in the West Bank and later convicted of killing a Palestinian in jail he accused of collaborating with Israel. Abu Ali also serves as a lawmaker from Abbas’ Fatah party.
Of course, the message Israel truly sends is that Palestinians can kill Israelis and get away with it. It does not send the message that Abbas is stronger than Hamas. If nothing else, Palestinians may very well think that keeping Hamas in control of Gaza will result in Israel willing to do even more concessions. After all, would Israel have released these people if Abbas was still firmly in control of both Gaza and the West Bank?
