Israel begins releasing Palestinian prisoners

Source: Xinhua | 12-03-2007 15:59

BETUNIA CROSSING, Israel, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- After some delay, Israel on Monday morning began to release 429 Palestinian prisoners, which was planned before last week's Annapolis Mideast peace conference, as a goodwill gesture to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Three buses carrying over 140 Palestinian security prisoners left the Ketziot prison in the Negev at about 7 a.m. (0500 GMT), and arrived at the Bitunia checkpoint near the West Bank city of Ramallah, where the prisoners were handed over to Palestinian National Authority security forces, Xinhua witnessed.

Ian Bomnitz, a spokesman for Israel Prison Service, told Xinhua that 408 Palestinians would be sent to the West Bank and 21 to the Gaza Strip, most of whom are members of the Fatah faction.

The release processes are carried out in stages, so as not to create too much pressure on the crowded Bitunia crossing, added Bomnitz.

The prisoners' release, originally scheduled before the U.S.-sponsored Annapolis conference, was postponed for Sunday, and thendelayed again for Monday.

In the past few days, these prisoners received medical checkups and met with representatives of the Red Cross, the Prisons Service said in a statement. They also signed a declaration committing to refraining from "terror activities."

With the 140 prisoners released on Monday, about 770 Palestinians have been freed since July.

More than 9,000 Palestinian security prisoners are in Israeli jails. Their release is a central Palestinian demand, and Monday's release is intended to strengthen Abbas in his struggle against Hamas.

Hamas wrested control of the Gaza Strip from forces loyal to Abbas in June, and remains firmly in control there.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei