Abbas advisor: Terrorist prisoners are "heroes" who will be honored " just as the world honored Mandela"
“Ahmed Al-Ruweidi, Advisor on Jerusalem Affairs to the [Palestinian] President's Office, said: ‘The President [Mahmoud Abbas] spoke the truth when he promised that the prisoners’ issue would be given top priority, in order to return the smiles to the [faces of the] prisoners’ families.’ He added: ‘Tomorrow, Allah willing, Jerusalem will welcome its heroes – this city, which is being targeted through its Judaization, the destruction of its homes, the expulsion of its residents and the seizure of its holy sites. We have always insisted on being a part of our people, with the result that the released [prisoners] include heroes who are Jerusalem residents.’
In addition, he emphasized that ongoing action [is being taken] to free the [remaining] 5,000 Palestinian prisoners, until the jails are empty…
He added: ‘The Palestinian prisoner stood firm for freedom, and just as the world honored Mandela – we in Palestine have many Mandelas, who fought for freedom, were arrested at a young age, and will leave [prison] as adults. We extend our salutations to his Palestinian leadership, and say to the President: “Move forward; we in Jerusalem are behind you.”’”
From WAFA, official PA news agency
Notes: Nelson Mandela - A South African revolutionary against apartheid who spent 27 years in prison for organizing acts of sabotage against the apartheid government. After an international campaign for his release, Mandela was freed in 1990. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 and became South Africa's first black president a year later.
Five prisoners from Jerusalem were released on December 30, 2013 in the third phase of prisoner releases. Among them were:
Yassin Abu Khdeir – was serving 28 years for the murder of Yigal Shahaf in the Old City of Jerusalem on Oct. 10, 1987. He was released in Dec. 2013 as one of 104 terrorists whom Israel agreed to release to fulfill the PA's precondition for renewing negotiations.
Mahmoud Da'ajneh participated in the murder of Sarah Sharon, who was stabbed to death in Holon on Jan. 20, 1993. He was serving a life sentence, but was released in Dec. 2013 as one of 104 terrorists whom Israel agreed to release to fulfill the PA's precondition for renewing negotiations.
In addition, he emphasized that ongoing action [is being taken] to free the [remaining] 5,000 Palestinian prisoners, until the jails are empty…
He added: ‘The Palestinian prisoner stood firm for freedom, and just as the world honored Mandela – we in Palestine have many Mandelas, who fought for freedom, were arrested at a young age, and will leave [prison] as adults. We extend our salutations to his Palestinian leadership, and say to the President: “Move forward; we in Jerusalem are behind you.”’”
From WAFA, official PA news agency
Notes: Nelson Mandela - A South African revolutionary against apartheid who spent 27 years in prison for organizing acts of sabotage against the apartheid government. After an international campaign for his release, Mandela was freed in 1990. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 and became South Africa's first black president a year later.
Five prisoners from Jerusalem were released on December 30, 2013 in the third phase of prisoner releases. Among them were:
Yassin Abu Khdeir – was serving 28 years for the murder of Yigal Shahaf in the Old City of Jerusalem on Oct. 10, 1987. He was released in Dec. 2013 as one of 104 terrorists whom Israel agreed to release to fulfill the PA's precondition for renewing negotiations.
Mahmoud Da'ajneh participated in the murder of Sarah Sharon, who was stabbed to death in Holon on Jan. 20, 1993. He was serving a life sentence, but was released in Dec. 2013 as one of 104 terrorists whom Israel agreed to release to fulfill the PA's precondition for renewing negotiations.