The cabinet last week approved the release of the Arabs, as a friendly gesture to Mubarak and the incoming Palestinian leadership. According to official reports, none of those released were directly involved in harming Israelis, although most were convicted for aiding terrorists. Fifty of the prisoners were illegal residents in Judea and Samaria.
"Help us pressure the Sharon Zionist government to release all of the prisoners from jail," said Abdallah Hassan, one of the released convicts. "We support Abu Mazen and want him to emphasize the prisoners issue." Others stated they expected that many more prisoners would have been released.
Among the released prisoners is, a senior Fatah party leader in Hevron. Fatah is the PLO's terrorist organization founded by Yasser Arafat.
Today, all of the former prisoners returned to their homes throughout Israel.
President Moshe Katzav, who agreed to pardon the prisoners, refused to grant release to only four members of the Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Tanzim terrorist organizations.
Spokesman for the Terror Victims Association Uriah Bachrach denounced the release of the terrorists. He said that the Prime Minister's office categorically stated that the prisoners which would be released in exchange for Azzam Azzam were the 6 Egyptian students who were detained in Israel for terrorist activity and no more.
Bachrach noted, "Contrary to all media reports, this release has nothing to do with Azzam Azzam. It is a 'gesture' that, based on past experience, will cost Israel Jewish blood. In every other release of terrorists who attempted, but were not successful, in murdering Jews, many of the convicts went right back to try again. In essence, the State of Israel is simply granting a second chance to terrorists who missed their target."
"In one case, an Arab who was involved in terrorist activity was released because he was an orphan," Bachrach added. "We argued in court that this man is dangerous, but the court released him. Two days later, he murdered a 3-year-old Jewish girl in Kiryat Arba."
Azaam, who was released by Egypt after serving 8 years of a 15-year sentence, had been convicted and jailed under harsh conditions for allegedly spying for Israel. Azzam and Israeli officials have categorically denied any link to espionage.
"Help us pressure the Sharon Zionist government to release all of the prisoners from jail," said Abdallah Hassan, one of the released convicts. "We support Abu Mazen and want him to emphasize the prisoners issue." Others stated they expected that many more prisoners would have been released.
Among the released prisoners is, a senior Fatah party leader in Hevron. Fatah is the PLO's terrorist organization founded by Yasser Arafat.
Today, all of the former prisoners returned to their homes throughout Israel.
President Moshe Katzav, who agreed to pardon the prisoners, refused to grant release to only four members of the Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Tanzim terrorist organizations.
Spokesman for the Terror Victims Association Uriah Bachrach denounced the release of the terrorists. He said that the Prime Minister's office categorically stated that the prisoners which would be released in exchange for Azzam Azzam were the 6 Egyptian students who were detained in Israel for terrorist activity and no more.
Bachrach noted, "Contrary to all media reports, this release has nothing to do with Azzam Azzam. It is a 'gesture' that, based on past experience, will cost Israel Jewish blood. In every other release of terrorists who attempted, but were not successful, in murdering Jews, many of the convicts went right back to try again. In essence, the State of Israel is simply granting a second chance to terrorists who missed their target."
"In one case, an Arab who was involved in terrorist activity was released because he was an orphan," Bachrach added. "We argued in court that this man is dangerous, but the court released him. Two days later, he murdered a 3-year-old Jewish girl in Kiryat Arba."
Azaam, who was released by Egypt after serving 8 years of a 15-year sentence, had been convicted and jailed under harsh conditions for allegedly spying for Israel. Azzam and Israeli officials have categorically denied any link to espionage.