By Xinhua,
Ramallah : Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian National Authority (PNA) officials as well as thousands of cheering Palestinians received 198 prisoners who were freed from Israeli jails on Monday.
Men and women, relatives of the freed prisoners were dancing and singing while waving the Palestinian flags and those of President Abbas’ Fatah movement. Huge posters of the two oldest freed prisoners were hanged on the walls.
Israel freed on Monday 198 Palestinian prisoners from its jails as a goodwill gesture to Abbas. During his meeting with Abbas two weeks ago, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told Abbas that Israel will release some 200 prisoners.
As soon as the four buses carrying 198 prisoners arrived at al-Muqata’a, the PNA headquarters in Ramallah, many youths and children climbed on the buses to kiss and hug the freed prisoners.
“This is a happy moment to see prisoners released from Israeli jails, but this happiness is incomplete, it will be completed when all the prisoners in Israeli jails are released,” said Samir, 23, a relative of one of the prisoners.
The freed prisoners include Sa’eed el-Ataba who spent 32 years in Israeli jails, Abu Ali Yatta who spent 29 years and Husam Khader, a prominent Fatah leader and former legislator.
The released prisoners were seen looking from the windows of the busses at the crowds, while waving Palestinian flags and making the victory sign.
Upon arriving at al-Muqata’a with other freed prisoners, Sa’eedal-Ataba put a wreath of flowers on the grave of late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat who died in November 2004.
Other dozens of the freed prisoners also stood in front of Arafat’s grave at al-Muqata’a, read holy Islamic verses and kissed it.
Abbas was seen coming out of his office waving to the freed prisoners. He stood among the crowds, while receiving each prisoner with kisses and hugs.
According to the official figures, Israel is holding around 11,000 Palestinian prisoners in its jails, the vast majority of them were arrested during the second Intifada (uprising) that erupted against Israel in late September 2000.
“It is very good sign to free prisoners, and we welcome the release of any prisoner from Israeli prisons, but the prisoners released today is just a small part,” said Ahmed, 24, a friend of one of the released prisoners.
He added that Israel released 198 prisoners, but it arrested about 300 people during the past few weeks, adding “Israel should free all the prisoners and stop arrests in the West Bank.”