Israel is set to release more than 1,000 prisoners in exchange for kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, but at least two senior terrorists were not included in the swap. The Palestinian Information Center (PIC) website reported that a Hamas leader, Dr. Salah Al-Bardawil, said included among the major prisoners not released include Ahmed Saadat, and Marwan Al-Barghouthi, two of the biggest “name” terrorists held by Israel.
Saadat, secretary general of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), is imprisoned for involvement in terrorism, including masterminding the assassination of former Israeli Tourism Minister Rehavam Ze’evi in 2001.
Barghouthi, a senior Fatah leader and a leader of the Tanzim terror faction, is serving five life sentences for his role in murdering Israelis through terrorism during the Second Intifada.
A separate Hamas leader, Ezzet Al-Resheq, told PIC on Wednesday that some of the senior prisoners were not released, although Hamas did achieve 90 percent of their demands. Hundreds of terrorists with life sentences are set to be released for Shalit.
Israeli Prime Minister’s spokesperson Ofir Gendelman said on his Twitter feed that those released in the Shalit deal “will commit to avoid engaging in terrorism against Israel.” In a separate Tweet the spokesman said that Israel “never agreed to sit idly by” if the released Palestinian terrorists return to terrorism.
Said Gendelman, “Freed Palestinian prisoners who will not honor their commitment to avoid terrorism against Israel will be held fully accountable.”
The Israeli official also said that the list of prisoners set to be released by Israel will be posted on the Israel Prison Authority website on Sunday. He said Shalit is expected to return home on Tuesday.
(By Staff, www.themideastupdate.com, October 14, 2011)