A Palestinian Authority military tribunal has ordered the release of Ahmed Saadat, head of the PFLP (Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine) terrorist organization. Israel holds him responsible for planning the murder of Tourism Minister Rehavam Ze\'evi last October. IDF forces almost captured him during the month-long siege on Arafat\'s compound in Ramallah in April. The Israelis agreed to allow him, together with five other wanted terrorists, to be transferred to a Jericho prison, where their incarceration was to be supervised by American and British wardens. However, it was learned yesterday that the conditions are far from jail-like, and that the \"prisoners\" are allowed unrestricted visitors and phone calls.
The PA court ordered Saadat\'s outright release today because, it claimed, \"no evidence\" was found linking him with Ze\'evi\'s murder. Yasser Arafat must still confirm the decision before it is implemented. One PA official said that Arafat would exact prices for the \"reforms\" he is being required to make, and that silent international agreement to Saadat\'s release would be one of the prices.
Israel greeted the decision with anger. Prime Minister Sharon said that Israel would \"employ all the necessary measures to prevent the release of the man who stood behind the murder.\" Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said today that if the PA violates its agreement regarding Saadat, \"Israel will regard itself to be free from all related obligations.\" Even MK Ran Cohen of Meretz criticized the PA, saying that its court decision \"makes a mockery of Palestinian rule and law.\"
\"I\'m not surprised by the possibility of Saadat\'s release,\" Moledet party leader MK Benny Elon told Arutz-7. \"As President Bush once said, we have to either bring them to justice or bring justice to them. These terrorists, as well as those who were released from the Church of the Nativity, must be killed; they all have Jewish blood on their hands. We need not complain when other countries don\'t do the work for us, but rather do the work ourselves. I hope Saadat is the next targeted killing…\"
The PA court ordered Saadat\'s outright release today because, it claimed, \"no evidence\" was found linking him with Ze\'evi\'s murder. Yasser Arafat must still confirm the decision before it is implemented. One PA official said that Arafat would exact prices for the \"reforms\" he is being required to make, and that silent international agreement to Saadat\'s release would be one of the prices.
Israel greeted the decision with anger. Prime Minister Sharon said that Israel would \"employ all the necessary measures to prevent the release of the man who stood behind the murder.\" Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said today that if the PA violates its agreement regarding Saadat, \"Israel will regard itself to be free from all related obligations.\" Even MK Ran Cohen of Meretz criticized the PA, saying that its court decision \"makes a mockery of Palestinian rule and law.\"
\"I\'m not surprised by the possibility of Saadat\'s release,\" Moledet party leader MK Benny Elon told Arutz-7. \"As President Bush once said, we have to either bring them to justice or bring justice to them. These terrorists, as well as those who were released from the Church of the Nativity, must be killed; they all have Jewish blood on their hands. We need not complain when other countries don\'t do the work for us, but rather do the work ourselves. I hope Saadat is the next targeted killing…\"