Palestinian official joyful at release of 104 prisoners, calling it “a new precedent for future generations”

Official PA TV Live broadcast of the 49th anniversary of the launch of the Palestinian revolution in Tulkarem.Chairman of the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club Qadura Fares: “This year and last year there has been an important breakthrough. True, 104 [released] prisoners out of 5,000 is a small number. However, we know, and you all know, that for 20 years, the occupation state imposed its immoral and discriminating criteria, when it said [it would not release] ‘those with blood on their hands, those who killed Jews, prisoners from the1948 [areas] (i.e., Israel), prisoners from Jerusalem, prisoners from Hamas and prisoners from the Islamic Jihad.’ All criteria have been shattered with these groups we are welcoming with joy, and a new precedent has been set for future negotiations. This is the significance of this achievement. And I’m certain that, Allah willing, there will be additional breakthroughs, on all levels – the sick prisoners, the heroic leaders Marwan Barghouti and Ahmad Sa’adat, and the members of the Palestinian Parliament (Legislative Council).” ...

PA TV host recites a poem in honor of released prisoner Nasser Barham. Later, District Governor of Tulkarem Jamal Sa’id, PA Minister of Prisoners’ Affairs Issa Karake and Secretary-General of Fatah’s Revolutionary Council Amin Maqbul each gives Barham a plaque of honor.

Note: Ahmad Sa’adat - serving a 30-year sentence for heading the PFLP terror organization. A song at a PFLP event also praised him for planning the assassination of Israeli Minister of Tourism Rehavam Ze'evi in 2001, but he has not been tried for this crime.

Marwan Barghouti - serving five life sentences for orchestrating terror attacks against Israeli civilians. When arrested in 2002, he headed Fatah's military wing, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades. After he was convicted and imprisoned, he was re-elected member of the Palestinian Authority parliament.

Nasser Barham - stabbed his employer Moshe Edri to death in Netanya on November 24, 1993. He was serving a life sentence, but was released in December 2013 as one of the 104 terrorists whom Israel agreed to release to fulfill the PA's precondition for renewing negotiations.