FRmail me to be added or removed from this Israel Defense Forces and Israel ping list. Here you will find news, articles and fascinating stories about the IDF and Israel.
Posted on 02/21/2005 6:16:29 AM PST by IAF ThunderPilot
Early Monday morning, Israel released 500 Palestinians prisoners from the Ketziot military prison, and the newly freed detainees were transported to their homes in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, as part of Israel's goodwill gestures to PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had promised the release of the 500 prisoners at the Israeli-Palestinian summit in Sharm e-Sheikh earlier this month, where Sharon and Abbas declared a cease-fire to end four years of bloodshed.
Fourteen buses, escorted by police and ambulances, were seen leaving the military prison camp at Ketziot in the southern Negev desert near the border with Egypt. The prisoners were released to five dispersal points: 53 were released at Beitunya near Ramallah, 169 at Berotayim near Tulkarm, 105 at Tarkumiya near Hebron, 137 at Salem outside Jenin and 37 at Erez in the Gaza Strip.
Prior to their release, every one of the prisoners, which included 380 prisoners and 120 administrative detainees, signed waivers promising to refrain from any terrorist activities in the future.
At Beitunya near Ramallah, two busloads of prisoners led a by Prisoner Service Authority patrol van drove up to the checkpoint, where they were to be released, shortly after 11:00 a.m. and were greeted by excited crowds waving PLO flags.
Among those present to greet the newly freed prisoners was Abu Sukker, who was involved in the refrigerator bomb blast in Zion Square in the 1970's and was released from Israeli prison one year ago. Since Abbas's election, Sukker has been serving as advisor for prisoner affairs.
On the Palestinian side of the checkpoint, minibuses waited to take the prisoners to Ramallah. A number of the prisoners as well as their family members asserted that the release would not be sufficient to bring peace to the area, but others praised Abbas for securing their release.
Within the next three months, Israel is planning to release another 400 prisoners. A joint Israeli-Palestinian ministerial committee will decide which prisoners will be released in the second round.
Monday's release was made possible after the High Court of Justice ruled unanimously on Sunday to reject a petition by a group of victims of terror against the release of the 500 prisoners.
Even though 180 of the prisoners due to be released have not completed two-thirds of their sentence, the court ruled that the government was empowered to establish the criteria determining which prisoners were eligible to be set free.
AP contributed to this report.
What the hell is going on here?!
Terrorists are released back to the battle field...
How many IDF soldiers died for catching those wicked terrorists?
How many mothers didn't sleep at night because their sons were running across arab villages to collect intelligence and to locate those wanted terrorists?
How many were murdered by those terrorists?
How many families of the murdered by those terrorists were ruined?
How many WILL be murdered in the future by those terrorists who "promised" to stop terror activities?
How many families WILL be ruined?
And on the other hand? Initiatives produce more sickness!
Displacement and handing over of communities, pursuit and abuse on every Jewish settler, slander and libel on the poeple who lead the state at zionistic making!
"Let's take their weapons..." say our leftists brothers about the settlers, and on the other hand they release the murderers of our children with a smile of "gesture"...
Where do we live?!
Who is against whom?!
The 3rd exile is on the entrance... Terrible and unbearable!!!
It makes me wonder: "What the hell am I doing in the IDF then?!"...
There ought to be a way to build a radio controlled device that goes beneath the skin, which when triggered, releases a fatal dose of cyanide.
Having something of that nature implanted on these terrorists is the only manner in which such a release would be acceptable. Oh, and pressing the trigger after they got home.
Regards, Ivan
BTTT
The only sane Jews are Baruch Marzel and the Chayil Party!
So what's your alternative? What should Sharon do? Just keep killing Palestinians and sit by while they kill Isralis?
Concessions have to be made, by both sides. You can't bring the end of a war like this without some sort of concessions.
Hey troll Dont you see this is Oslo 2!
When America makes concessions to Al-Qaeda then let Israel consider making Concession to Hamas!
Abbas said he cannot stop the terrorism and wont try!
This is a unilateral action, like the withdrawl from Gaza. The PA has promised absolutely nothing, no concessions, in return. Only more demands.
WARNING: This is a high volume ping list
>>>"On the Palestinian side of the checkpoint, minibuses waited to take the prisoners to Ramallah.>>> A number of the prisoners as well as their family members asserted that "the release would not be sufficient to bring peace to the area,"<<< but others praised Abbas for securing their release.<<<
What is gained here ??? MANY of the released will come back to KILL more Israelis. THERE is no assurance of Safety or Peace. When you release Murderers back into the public, back with the Martyrs, back into the Hatetred that fuels the Palestinian's Unjust Cause. How is Israel to sleep sound and know there children and loved one's are SAFE ????
>>>"Monday's release was made possible after the High Court of Justice ruled unanimously on Sunday to >>> reject a petition by a group of victims of terror against the release of the 500 prisoners."<<<
IAF ThunderPilot, who is this "High Court of Justice" and there rejection of a Petition, is this there "usual" way of handling such matters ???
Thank You for your service in the IDF, many Americans forget that Israel Has been and still is the "front lines" of terrorism.
Stay strong, stand proud ........ "so one may walk in peace".......
But look at the bright side, there's now *plenty* of room in prison for religious Jews who resist expulsion (or even talk of it).
Good job Israel. You've brought them another step closer to their dream. Idiots.
For the first time ever, I agree with your post.
Only one note: "Good job Israel" should be "Good job Israeli government".
Many Israelis, including myself, don't agree with our government's actions.
Can we do something about it? Yes we can.
Next elections they won't get our votes.
I can only hope that by then it won't be too late.
You know why you are in the IDF. Stand firm.
I know how you feel. When the Skinnies dragged our boy's body through the streets of Somalia, the entire 82nd came into work early, without a call, knowing that we had to go kick some Skinny a$$. It didn't happen. We wondered why we were doing it as well.
The answer was something you have already posted- elections. I don't think right thinking Israelis are gonna take this sitting down.
I can't be there to help watch your 6, but I am praying for you. (What was it Paul said, "Pray without ceasing, for this is the will of God.")
Actually, the alternative is very clear. Just few see it.
Concessions have to be made, by both sides. You can't bring the end of a war like this without some sort of concessions.
Not necessarily. A clear victory does not usually result in the victor making concessions. There will be a day when the war is won - and the Victor will totally remove His enemies, but until then, this is not a war that can be won. Concessions won't work in this case because they will be, they always have been made on only one side. The PA never has made any, though at times they have talked about it. Whenever Israel makes concessions, the result is always that their enemies say it is just not enough to stop the violence, although they may call a short halt in it - but that really doesn't happen either. If you look at history it is always that Israel is made to give up more and more but their enemies not having to give anything up.
Here in the U.S., it appears that 90+ percent of the people strongly disagree with our governments open borders policy...That does not however, deter the President from pursuing his agenda...
I wonder what the majority of Israelis think of this current maneuver in Israel...
Sharon appears to be tying the hands of the IDF and I believe this action will guarantee you a lot of activity in the near future...
Hey, everyone's got to make a concession.
The "right wing hawk" "Bulldozer" was overwhelmingly elected in response to this failed "peace" nonsense last time. Israelis wanted change. His platform opposed unilateral withdrawal from Gaza.
Labor, Likud, it makes no difference.
The change required is much more fundamental than just a new leader. Israel must decide that they want to survive, in the long term, not by absorbing some number of daily terror attacks and capitulating to genocidal arab muslim terrorists and calling that "life" in Israel, but by proactively aggressively killing the enemy with extreme prejudice, fury, and finality.
Passivity and weakness *invite attack* and that's exactly what will happen to Israel regardless of how many "painful concessions" are made.
Stand up, act, fight, take charge, lead, win.
Do it now.
Return Israel to her former respected self.
Concessions are being made here, by only one side.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.