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Abbas welcomes 198 prisoners released by Israel By Yoav Stern The Palestinian Authority held a festive reception yesterday at the Muqata in Ramallah for 198 Palestinian prisoners released from Israeli prisons. PA President Mahmoud Abbas offered congratulations for those released, but emphasized: "We will not rest until all of the prisoners are freed [...] There will not be peace without the release of all the prisoners." He called for the release of prominent Fatah member Marwan Bargouti and the leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Ahmed Sa'adat, who are jailed in Israel. Advertisement In a gesture "for the sake of unity," Abbas also called on Israel to free Aziz Duweik, the Palestinian speaker of parliament from Hamas. Hamas spokesmen had welcomed with reservations the prisoner release, which was an Israeli goodwill gesture toward Abbas, saying that Israel is increasing the internal Palestinian split. Over the past year Israel has released nearly 1,000 prisoners as gestures of goodwill to the PA. Among the prisoners freed yesterday were two long-termers - Said al-Ataba and Abu Ali Yata, as well as a former member of parliament from Fatah, Hussam Khader. Ataba, who was sentenced to life for his role in a 1977 terrorist attack, told the crowds gathered for a ceremony in Ramallah's Shuhada square: "This people has chosen life, and destiny should acquiesce. The night should pass, the chains break." Bookmark to del.icio.us   Swing Jews Jewish Democrats go hi-tech to fight anti-Obama 'hate mail.' Where's Rose? Missing girl's mother allegedly told husband to 'get rid of her.'

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