RAMALLAH/GAZA CITY, 21 July 2007 — Israel freed 255 Palestinian prisoners yesterday to bolster Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. The released prisoners arrived at Ramallah to participate in a ceremony, especially organized by Palestinian officials to highlight the step.

Thousands of Palestinians rallied near Abbas’ presidential compound “Muqata’a” to welcome home the freed relatives. The release of Mahmoud Shalatweh of Aboud village was canceled when he was found to be a Hamas member, and that of another was delayed when he refused to sign the commitment not to indulge in violence against Israel. He was finally persuaded to do so, and freed.

Earlier in the morning, the prisoners boarded buses headed from Ketziot prison to the Bitunia checkpoint near the West Bank city of Ramallah, where they were handed over to the Palestinian Authority. Palestinian buses carrying the released prisoners were covered with pictures of Abbas and Yasser Arafat. Many kissed the ground before boarding Palestinian buses for the journey to the “Muqata’a”.

It was the biggest single release since 2005, when 900 Palestinian prisoners were freed following an earlier summit. Sporting fresh haircuts and grinning from ear to ear, the prisoners craned their necks to lean out of buses waving flags and keffiyehs, flashing victory signs and kissing loved ones, en route to Ramallah.

Halima Jomhur, 60, was waiting for her son Imad who served four years of a six-and-a-half year sentence. “He was arrested 10 days before his wedding. His fiancée is still waiting for him and the first thing we’re going to do is marry them,” she said.

Abbas personally greeted the prisoners at the festive ceremony and said that the 255 prisoners released from Israeli jails were only the first group to be released and that more would be freed shortly.

“I thank God that we are honored by the return of heroes of freedom to their home and the bosom of their homeland. This is only the beginning... efforts must continue. Our work must continue until every prisoner returns to his home,” Abbas added.

Members of the Presidential Guard tried to control the crowd of relatives, but roved no match to the thousands of rushing family members, some of whom were reunited with their loved ones for the first time in years.

“We hope the combined steps of both the Israeli government and the Palestinians are the start of a new chapter in Israeli-Palestinian relations,” said Mark Regev, a spokesman for the Israeli Foreign Ministry.

Most of the released prisoners were believed to be Fatah members or supporters, with about 15 percents of them belonging to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP). Among those released was PLFP Deputy Secretary-General Abdulrahim Mallouh, who sources said will play mediate talks between the Fatah and Hamas.

Mallouh, one of the more moderate voices in the PFLP, was arrested in 2002 during an Israeli operation in Ramallah and charged with affiliation to an illegal organization. He was scheduled for release in 2009.

“I only have three words to say: freedom, freedom, freedom. There is nothing more beautiful than freedom,” said Mallouh. “No one can appreciate freedom more than one who has been deprived of it,” said the 60-year-old.

According to the guidelines approved earlier in the week by a special Israeli governmental committee headed by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, the prisoners released were not involved in attacks on Israelis. Those released were jailed for lesser charges, including weapons trafficking, illegal possession of firearms, belonging to an illegal organization, attempted murder, attempted involuntary manslaughter and aiding and abetting fugitives.

Deposed Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh welcomed the release of the prisoners, but warned against its use by Israel as a political bribe.

Israeli sources said yesterday that the Israeli committee that Tuesday approved the list of 256 Palestinian prisoners also discussed names of prisoners not on the list at that meeting, in apparent preparation down the road for further prisoner releases.

According to government sources, newly appointed Vice Premier Haim Ramon, who has quickly asserted himself on all issues dealing with the Palestinians, was a key force in holding these discussions.

Ramon, according to a report by Israeli TV Channel 1, is also urging Olmert to develop a staged diplomatic program that he would present in a speech to the Israelis.

— Additional input from agencies