PLO chief Mahmoud Abbas is treating 198 convicted Arab terrorists and security suspects released as a gesture by Israel to a hero's welcome in Ramallah late Monday morning, as the bunch were feted in the capital of the Fatah-controlled PA, at the Muqata compound. 

Abbas, who is the Israel and US-backed leader of the Arabs of Judea and Samaria, declared "this is a day of celebration for all Palestinians, for the whole Palestinian homeland. The prisoners are a symbol of Palestinian … This is a day of celebration for these heroes."

The criminals will be further celebrated throughout the day, in localities housing terror hotbeds, such as Shechem and Hevron. Families of their victims and families of Jewish prison inmates who are not being considered for release because of their lack of political worth are decrying the release as immoral and unjust.