Israel Matzav

'Palestinians' shocked over Shalit deal

'Palestinians' are said to be shocked that Hamas agreed to release Gilad Shalit while some of its senior terrorists remain in Israeli prisons.

Palestinian sources told the newspaper Asharq al-Awsat that Hamas officials were shocked that senior operatives in the organization's military wing, including Hassan Salama, Abdullah Barghouti [pictured. CiJ], Abbas a-Sayed and Ibrahim Hamed will not be among the released. The sources said that several senior operatives have cancelled their speeches on the matter, and a joint press conference that was supposed to be held by the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades and the Popular Resistance Committee on Wednesday was called off.

Palestinian Authority Minister of Prisons Issa Kraka, who initially welcomed the deal, said he was disappointed that the top security prisoners were not to be freed.

"The negotiations on the deal had to focus more on the political, symbolic and national significance held by the senior leaders, including Marwan Barghouti and Ahmed Saadat," he said.

The son of Saadat, who headed the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and was responsible for the assassination of Israeli minister Rehavam Ze'evi, said that his father's continued confinement came as a shock, "even though we didn't expect Israel to (free him)."

What a load of nonsense. They all expect to be released because in the past we have always released them. It's time to institute a death penalty for terrorists. Long past time.

Labels: Abbas al-Sayid, Abdullah Barghouti, Ahmed Saadat, Gilad Shalit, Hassam Salameh, Ibrahim Hamed, Marwan Barghouti, Palestinian terrorism, terrorists for Gilad trade

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 7:05 AM