Israel Matzav

Cabinet votes to release 90 more terrorists

The cabinet voted today to release ninety more 'Palestinian' prisoners terrorists as a 'concession' to 'moderate' 'Palestinian' President Mahmoud Abbas Abu Mazen in honor of Ramadamadan.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told the cabinet that the prisoner release would not affect a deal for the release of kidnapped IDF Cpl. Gilad Schalit. "This is a gesture that has been accepted in the past. The prisoners will be freed according to criteria that already exist," he said.

Olmert has declared his willingness to release a limited number of the roughly 11,000 Palestinian prisoners Israel holds, in an effort to shore up the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, in his power struggle with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz, who opposed the prisoner release, said that "[Israel] is working against terror, paying the price for terror, and nevertheless making a gesture towards the Palestinians."

Mofaz said that the step "showed weakness."

"[We] didn't get anything for releasing 256 prisoners [in July], and we won't get anything this time," he said.

But did Mofaz vote against? The article only mentions Shas and Yisrael Beiteinu ministers as having voted against.

Olmert spokeswoman Miri Eisin added on Sunday that all the prisoners who will be released would mostly be Fatah members, and all have more than a year left to serve.

If anyone can parse that sentence, I'd be interested in hearing. The 'Palestinians' don't even pretend to be pleased:

"We aren't happy with the numbers or the terms," said Ashraf Ajrami, the Palestinian cabinet minister in charge of prisoner affairs. "The priority for releasing the prisoners should be those with long-sentences, political leaders, children, women and the ill."

"We will not refuse the release of any Palestinian prisoner, but we reject the way Israel has dealt with this issue," he added.

Hamas accused Fatah of working hand in hand with Israel.

"The 100 Palestinian prisoners are from Fatah, and that means continuing discrimination against prisoners, with Fatah's agreement," said Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri. "It's dangerous... when the occupation and Fatah play the same role in discriminating against the prisoners."

Maybe Olmert is trying to ensure that when he finally makes a trade for Gilad Shalit there will be no one left to release who is not a violent murderer, so he can tell us all he 'had to' release murderers? And are the terrorists he's releasing now are any better?

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 11:47 AM