The revolving door policy of the Sharon government has returned with a new twist. The previous government often was criticized for freeing terrorists who then planned and executed subsequent terror attacks against Israel. Under Interim Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, terrorists are freed from prison and then enter the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority (PA) administration.
Several months ago, Israeli police prepared at least four charges of involvement in acts of terror against Hamas legislator Mohamed Abu Tir. However, the government inexplicably decided not arrest him. Thursday, Abu Tir, the outspoken red-bearded Hamas legislator, along with two colleagues, met with three Arab Knesset Members.
Instead of placing Abu Tir behind bars, Israel has recently decided to revoke the Jerusalem residency status Abu Tir, along with Ahmed Atur and Mohamed Tutach. The three Hamas legislators have vowed to fight the decision in the Israeli Supreme Court as well as in international courts.
One terrorist who was arrested and then released is American-educated Omar Abdel Razek, the new finance minister and a Hamas fundraiser. Israeli authorities jailed him for three months on charges of funneling money for the Hamas terrorist group but suddenly released him March 14 without explanation.
Several days later, he was appointed to his new post and told the Associated Press, "We are not here to declare a war... Once they [the international community] know what Hamas is doing, I think they will change their mind."
However, following Monday's suicide bombing in Tel Aviv which killed nine and injured scores, Razek told Knight Ridder News, "This kid [the suicide bomber] must have had some other plans. Why would someone do what he did? They have reasons behind such acts. They are not ends. It's not...[that] you want to kill for the killing."
Another Hamas terrorist whom Israel freed Thursday night is Waji Qawwas, the mayor of Kalkilya, a large Arab city adjacent to Kfar Saba and near large Samarian communities such as Karnei Shomron, Ginot Shomron and Kedumim.
Qawwas was elected during his 44-month imprisonment and ran the city by cell telephone from his prison cell. Israeli authorities did not comment on his release, but government officials previously have said that despite the ban on contacts with the Hamas legislative government, they are prepared to work with the local councils on municipal issues.
One terrorist whom Israel has not been able to arrest is Jamal Abu Samhadana, who Thursday night was appointed as director general of the Hamas-led Interior Ministry. Samhadana is head of the violent Popular Resistance Committee and is believed to have been behind the 2003 attack on a United States convoy in the Gaza region which killed three people.
The terrorist escaped an Israeli missile attack on his car. He has been quoted as saying, "All of Israel is a military base," and, "All the Israeli people are soldiers in the Israeli army."
Several months ago, Israeli police prepared at least four charges of involvement in acts of terror against Hamas legislator Mohamed Abu Tir. However, the government inexplicably decided not arrest him. Thursday, Abu Tir, the outspoken red-bearded Hamas legislator, along with two colleagues, met with three Arab Knesset Members.
Instead of placing Abu Tir behind bars, Israel has recently decided to revoke the Jerusalem residency status Abu Tir, along with Ahmed Atur and Mohamed Tutach. The three Hamas legislators have vowed to fight the decision in the Israeli Supreme Court as well as in international courts.
One terrorist who was arrested and then released is American-educated Omar Abdel Razek, the new finance minister and a Hamas fundraiser. Israeli authorities jailed him for three months on charges of funneling money for the Hamas terrorist group but suddenly released him March 14 without explanation.
Several days later, he was appointed to his new post and told the Associated Press, "We are not here to declare a war... Once they [the international community] know what Hamas is doing, I think they will change their mind."
However, following Monday's suicide bombing in Tel Aviv which killed nine and injured scores, Razek told Knight Ridder News, "This kid [the suicide bomber] must have had some other plans. Why would someone do what he did? They have reasons behind such acts. They are not ends. It's not...[that] you want to kill for the killing."
Another Hamas terrorist whom Israel freed Thursday night is Waji Qawwas, the mayor of Kalkilya, a large Arab city adjacent to Kfar Saba and near large Samarian communities such as Karnei Shomron, Ginot Shomron and Kedumim.
Qawwas was elected during his 44-month imprisonment and ran the city by cell telephone from his prison cell. Israeli authorities did not comment on his release, but government officials previously have said that despite the ban on contacts with the Hamas legislative government, they are prepared to work with the local councils on municipal issues.
One terrorist whom Israel has not been able to arrest is Jamal Abu Samhadana, who Thursday night was appointed as director general of the Hamas-led Interior Ministry. Samhadana is head of the violent Popular Resistance Committee and is believed to have been behind the 2003 attack on a United States convoy in the Gaza region which killed three people.
The terrorist escaped an Israeli missile attack on his car. He has been quoted as saying, "All of Israel is a military base," and, "All the Israeli people are soldiers in the Israeli army."