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Israel releases 198 Palestinians

25 August 2008 10:17 (UTC +04:00)

Tel-Avivâ€“APA. Israeli government released 198 Palestinian prisoners on August 25, APA quotes Ynetnews. They were freed as a gesture to Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Abbas reached an agreement on releasing of prisoners on August 6. Earlier it was decided to free 199 prisoners, but later one of them determined as charged for criminal case. Before releasing from the prison the former inmates signed a commitment to never engage in terror activities again.
The former prisoners will be greeted in Ramallah in a special ceremony attended by Abbas and senior Palestinian Authority officials.
Special ceremonies will be held for greeting of three released prisoners in Hebron and Nablus. They are Sayed Al-Ataba, Abu Ali Yata and Hussam Hader. Sayed Al-Ataba was convicted for killing of Jewish girl in 1977 and sentenced for life imprisonment. Abu Ali Yata was also convicted for life imprisonment for killing of Jewish student in 1979. Hussam Hader, who was arrested in 2003, is a member of the Palestinian parliament and one of the Palestinian top officials.