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Israel frees jailed Palestinians Freed Palestinians welcomed home
(about 1 hour later)
Israel has released more than 250 Palestinian prisoners, including six women and 11 minors. More than 250 Palestinians released from Israeli prisons have received a rapturous welcome from relatives and friends in Ramallah, on the West Bank.
Israel had agreed to the releases as a gesture of support to the Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas called them "heroes of freedom".
However, no prisoners from Hamas, which is locked in bitter rivalry with Mr Abbas's Fatah, have been freed. Israel agreed to the releases as a gesture of support to Mr Abbas whose Fatah faction is locked in a bitter power struggle with its Hamas rivals.
Many Palestinians are saying that freeing only 256 Palestinian prisoners out of some 10,000 is not enough, our correspondent in the West Bank says. None of the freed prisoners is from Hamas, which took over the Gaza Strip from Fatah in deadly fighting in June.
Many Palestinians are saying that freeing only 256 Palestinian prisoners out of some 10,000 is not enough, says the BBC's Ali Maqbool in Ramallah.
Kissed groundKissed ground
The Palestinians were taken from Ketziot prison in southern Israel to an Israeli checkpoint outside the West Bank town of Ramallah. "I thank God that we are honoured by the return of heroes of freedom to their home and the bosom of their homeland," said Mr Abbas to the freed Palestinians and hundreds of their family and friends.
There they were transferred to Palestinian coaches for a journey straight to Mr Abbas's compound where the president is greeting the freed prisoners. He said he would work for the release of the other prisoners still held in Israeli jails.
The freed Palestinians were taken from prisons in Israel to a checkpoint outside Ramallah.
Many kissed the ground before boarding Palestinian coaches for the journey into Ramallah for their reception at Mr Abbas's presidential compound.
We're hopeful that the combined steps by the Israeli government and the Palestinian government can bring about a new period of co-operation and dialogue Mark RegevIsraeli Foreign Ministry spokesmanWe're hopeful that the combined steps by the Israeli government and the Palestinian government can bring about a new period of co-operation and dialogue Mark RegevIsraeli Foreign Ministry spokesman
As they changed coaches, many of the former prisoners kissed the ground. As the coaches arrived at Mr Abbas's compound they were greeted by a euphoric crowd, many waving Palestinian flags.
Others flashed the V for victory sign and waved Palestinian flags from the windows of the coaches.
"I only have three words to say: freedom, freedom, freedom," said Abdel Rahim Malluh, deputy leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and the most well-known of the released prisoners."I only have three words to say: freedom, freedom, freedom," said Abdel Rahim Malluh, deputy leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and the most well-known of the released prisoners.
He was the first to be greeted by Mr Abbas. While the release of the prisoners is welcome news for Palestinians, says the BBC's Middle East analyst Roger Hardy, many note that the Israelis have been very selective.
None of released prisoners is considered by Israel to have been directly involved in attacks that wounded or killed Israelis. They are for the most part low-security prisoners who have already served most of their sentences.
None of them is considered by Israel to have "blood on their hands" - to have been directly involved in attacks that wounded or killed Israelis.
'Policy of division''Policy of division'
As the coaches arrived at the presidential compound they were greeted by a euphoric crowd of friends and relatives, many waving Palestinian flags.
The prisoner release was approved two weeks ago by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's cabinet.The prisoner release was approved two weeks ago by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's cabinet.
Israel hopes to boost support for Mr Abbas whose emergency government based in the West Bank excludes the radicals of Hamas. Mr Abbas said the released Palestinians were "heroes of freedom"Israel hopes to boost support for Mr Abbas whose emergency government based in the West Bank excludes the radicals of Hamas.
Last month, Hamas fighters overran the Gaza Strip, overcoming their rivals from Fatah.
"We're hopeful that the combined steps by the Israeli government and the Palestinian government can bring about a new period of co-operation and dialogue," said Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev."We're hopeful that the combined steps by the Israeli government and the Palestinian government can bring about a new period of co-operation and dialogue," said Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev.
Hamas says the release of Fatah-affiliated prisoners reinforces Mr Abbas' policy to deepen the divide between his organisation and Hamas. Hamas says the release of Fatah-affiliated prisoners reinforces Mr Abbas's policy to deepen the divide between his organisation and Hamas.
And other Palestinians say the number of prisoners released is too low.
About 10,000 Palestinian prisoners are being held in Israeli jails, most on security-related offences, but some have never been charged.
The last time Israel freed a significant number of Palestinian prisoners was in 2005, when almost 400 were released as part of a ceasefire deal.The last time Israel freed a significant number of Palestinian prisoners was in 2005, when almost 400 were released as part of a ceasefire deal.