The Olmert government voted to release 90 PA terrorist prisoners Sunday morning as a Ramadan gesture to PA/Fatah chief Mahmoud Abbas.  The precise list of the terrorists to be set free will be set this afternoon (Sunday) by a special ministerial committee.



The decision was immediately attacked, even from within the government.  Transportation Minister Sha'ul Mofaz - a former Defense Minister and IDF Chief of Staff - said, "We are working against terrorism and paying a price for the existence of terrorism - and despite this we make [these] gestures... This is the mark of a weak government.  We received nothing in return for freeing 256 prisoners [two months ago], and we will receive nothing in return this time as well."



Shas and Yisrael Beiteinu

The ministers of Shas and Yisrael Beiteinu also voted against.  Their votes did not save them from criticism from the nationalist camp, however.  MK Zevulun Orlev (National Religious Party) said, "Shas and Yisrael Beiteinu cannot say their hands are clean; they are partners in the decision to release terrorists."



Knesset Members of the National Union/NRP have long demanded that Shas and Yisrael Beiteinu, which represent religious and/or nationalist publics, leave the government.



MK Gideon Saar (Likud), said, "With the attempts to commit terrorist attacks increasing, the Olmert government once again shows weakness, releasing terrorists who are liable to continue their terrorist activity."



At least one minister was publicly happy about the decision.  The Minister of Culture, Science and Sport, Israeli-Arab Raleb Majadele (Labor), said, "I congratulate the Prime Minister and the ministers for deciding to release dozens of prisoners for Ramadan.  The prisoners and captives on both sides have families who are waiting and worrying.  We must strengthen the moderate forces in Israel and in the [Palestinian] Authority."



The list of prisoners approved for release is not limited to members of Fatah, and will include terrorists from both the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP).  Only those without "blood on their hands," i.e., their terrorist activities did not end in deaths, but only in injuries or even total failure, will be released. 



Prime Minister Ehud Olmert emphasized that Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists will not be released.  Hamas-run Gaza was declared a "hostile entity" by the Cabinet just last week.



Olmert further said that the release will not interfere with the efforts to free captive soldier Gilad Shalit, who is being held in Gaza, "as none of the prisoners to be freed are those demanded by Hamas."



Other Reactions

MK Aryeh Eldad (National Union) said, "Tomorrow, IDF soldiers will once again endanger their lives in the alleys of Shechem to try and catch these terrorists and their friends.  This is not only foolishness, it is a cynical abuse of IDF soldiers and the lives of Israeli citizens."



The Yesha Council (of Jewish Communities in Judea and Samaria) stated: "Just ten days ago, there was a shooting attack near Karnei Shomron by terrorists of the Fatah organization of Abbas - friends of those who were recently released, or maybe it was them themselves.  Freeing more terrorists is a conscious abandonment of the citizens of Israel."



Freedom for Jewish Prisoners Also Demanded

Jewish families of terrorism victims, and families of Jewish security prisoners, protested outside the Prime Minister's office during the Cabinet meeting against releasing Arab terrorists.  The Honenu civil rights organization demands freedom for Jewish security prisoners, in the wake of the release of Palestinian terrorists from Israeli prisons.

Family members of Jewish prisoners and those murdered by released Arab terrorists

"We are against the release of any Arab terrorists from Israeli prison," emphasizes Honenu founder Shmuel (Zangy) Medad.  "The release of terrorists is a sign of weakness, adds experienced terrorists to the war effort against us, and is a dangerous precedent that encourages more terrorism and kidnappings.  However, the fact is that Israel has already freed terrorists, and therefore, in all fairness and justice, Jews and Israelis in prison for security crimes must also be released."

Honenu has prepared a list of 37 men who are in prison or who are charged with security-related crimes.  Virtually all of the alleged crimes were perpetrated, if at all, in response to Palestinian or other Arab terrorism.