PALESTINIANS WELCOME PRISONER RELEASE, HOPE FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 002096 SIPDIS SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NSC FOR ABRAMS/SINGH/WATERS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/24/2017 TAGS: KWBG PGOV PREL PTER IS KDEM PHUM SUBJECT: PALESTINIANS WELCOME PRISONER RELEASE, HOPE FOR MORE REF: JERUSALEM 01554 Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Israel released 87 Palestinian prisoners October 1-2, including members of most Palestinian factions other than HAMAS. Palestinians welcomed the release and urged that the GoI release larger numbers and coordinate with the Palestinian Authority on which prisoners will be released. End summary. ISRAEL RELEASES 87 PALESTINIAN PRISONERS -------------- ¶2. (U) In an initial tranche, the GoI released 57 prisoners from the West Bank on October 1. The remaining 30 prisoners (29 from the Gaza Strip and one from the West Bank) were released October 2, after Israeli President Peres signed their release orders. The released prisoners included members of several Palestinian factions, but none were members of HAMAS. PALESTINIANS WELCOME RELEASE, CALL FOR COORDINATION -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C) All Palestinian factions, including HAMAS, welcomed the prisoners' release, but also said the number released falls well short of resolving the issue of the 11,000 Palestinians being held in Israeli jails. A HAMAS spokesman noted that the IDF arrests more Palestinians than they release each year. PLO Secretary General Yassir Abed Rabbo told ConGen Political Specialist that the release is a symbolic gesture that requires follow up. Fatah grassroots leader Hussayn al-Shaykh emphasized to PolChief that the Palestinian leadership did not discuss the prisoners' release with the GoI and did not weigh in on the names of prisoners selected. He said the issue of Palestinian prisoners cannot be resolved by unilateral Israeli action. Al-Shaykh and other Fatah leaders met the West Bank prisoners at Beitunia and accompanied them to the Muqatta in Ramallah where they were received in a public ceremony presided over by the Secretary General of the Presidency, Tayeb Abdel Rahim. West SIPDIS Bank governors also held welcome receptions for returning prisoners. Prisoners returning to Gaza were met by the local Fatah leadership there. WALLES