Palestinian Media Watch Bulletin, September 2, 2008.
The release of 199 Palestinian terrorist prisoners, which Israel intended as a
goodwill gesture to promote peace with the Palestinian Authority, appears to
have had an adverse effect. It’s been perceived and portrayed as Israeli
weakness, led to the glorification of the released terrorist murders and
heightened expectations for the release of more than 3,400 convicted terrorist
murderers in Israeli jails.
Following are excerpts from the Palestinian Authority media on four recurring
themes:
1.The Prisoner Release Is Presented as Israeli Weakness
Palestinian Minister for Prisoner Affairs, Ashraf al-Ajrami, said, “The release of
199 prisoners today is a landmark that has crushed Israel’s conditions … the most significant development has been the release of several
prisoners… whom Israel could have continued to detain under the pretext that
they aided the killing of Israelis. This points to a breakthrough precedent and
the toppling of Israel’s conditions regarding 3,450 other prisoners whom Israel
places in the same category . ”
[ Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Aug. 25, 2008]
“Hajj Mahmoud Issa Amaira, who is nearing 60, said: ‘The entire people should
welcome al-Utbah and Abu Ali Yatta today, for
they are proof to us that prison walls do not close forever on anyone’…
Bethlehem resident al-Uzzah, who was herself released from prison a year ago,
said, ‘There is no comparison to our celebration today, following the release of
Sa’id al-Utbah and Abu Ali Yatta. Israel’s so-called red lines are imaginary and a
thing of the past.'”
“Hussein al-Jamal, a board member of the PFLP, came out yesterday with a
media statement that the Palestinian people’s ongoing struggle has forced the
Occupation to fundamentally revise Israel’s approach to the Palestinian and
Arab prisoners… The release of a group of some of the most senior prisoners
serves as proof that Israel’s conditions for the release of prisoners have
undergone critical changes.”
Dr. Najat Abu Baker, a Fatah member of Palestinian Parliament: “I am certain
that there will be a deal for the release of more than 1,600 prisoners. I hope
that this deal will overcome all of Israel’s demands and topple the conditions set
by Israel. I say that we have grasped this issue, and have reached out to those
singled out and to our fighting brethren who have sat in prison for more than
20 years.”
“Thabet, one of the released prisoners and a Fatah leader, said… ‘The release
of his fellows from prison… constitutes the breakdown of Israeli conditions.'”
Bilal al-Shahsir, chair of the Palestinian National Council: “The Palestinian
leadership has managed to secure a Palestinian victory for the Palestinian
people by breaking down Israeli conditions and by forcing Israel to abandon the
idea it has attempted to entrench according to which some prisoners have
blood on their hands .”
2. The terrorist murderers have been elevated to the status of Palestinian icons.
Sa’id al-Utbah is responsible for the suicide-bombing attacks in the Petah Tikva
market, Shuk HaCarmel Market and buses, in which dozens of Israelis were
wounded and Tzilla Galili was murdered.
Dr. Najat Abu Baker, a Fatah member of the Palestinian Parliament: “Today we
have added to the Guinness book of records a leader, an icon of freedom, and a
guide to all humanity, the released prisoner Sa’id al-Utbah. Welcome back, O
brilliant commander and jihad fighter.”
“Our brave prisoners… and the man who stands at their head, the most senior
fighter sentenced to life in prison, Sa’id al-Utbah.”
“…Al-Utbah is always compared to other famous political prisoners who have
fought to defend their homeland and aspired to free them, such as the Black
South African leader, Nelson Mandela, who spent 29 years in prison under the
racist regime which has since passed from this world.”
Mohammed Abu Ali Yatta is a senior member of Fatah who was sentenced to
two life-term sentences for murdering an Israeli reserve soldier in Hebron and a
fellow Palestinian convict he suspected of aiding Israel.
Mahmoud Abbas announced during the prisoners’ welcoming ceremony:
“… This is a day when our heart rejoices… to see one of the greatest icons of
our struggle, a man who has spent decades in prison – our brother Abu Ali
Yatta.”
3.The release is seen as a precedent for the future release of all Palestinian
terrorists held in Israeli jails, including 3,450 terrorists convicted of murder.
Palestinian Minister for Prisoner Affairs, Ashraf al-Ajrami: “… This is only the
starting point and we will continue to release all of the prisoners. I commend
the Palestinian leadership sitting in prison, and most of all, our brother the
combatant Marwan Barghouti . I send them a message that we will soon see them among us: our
brother Marwan, our brother Ahmed Saadat , and our brother
Aziz Dweik …”
“The Arab Liberation Front… interpreted this move as the breakdown of Zionist
conditions; a move that has paved the way to the release of prisoners
sentenced for life.”
Dr. Najat Abu Baker, a Fatah member of the Palestinian Parliament: “…We have
100 to 125 prisoners who have served their sentences for over 25 years. I have
a message for these prisoners, many of whom suffer from chronic illnesses: Be
patient…”
PA President Mahmoud Abbas: “There will not be peace, unless
prisons are emptied.”
“Thabet, one of the released prisoners and a Fatah leader, said… this is a good
starting point for the release of all the prisoners, male and female, and the
emptying out of Israeli prisons.”
4. All the terrorists, including the murderers, have been glorified as heroes.
Mahmoud Abbas announced during a welcoming ceremony for the released
prisoners: “These brave released prisoners … symbols of steadfastness,
symbols of our homeland… are among our nation’s heroes.”
“The Fatah council of the Yattah municipality congratulates… the release from
prison of a group of our heroic prisoners and hopes that all of our brave
imprisoned fighters will be released in the near future.”
