During a ceremony welcoming released terrorists in his Ramallah Mukata complex on Monday, PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) announced that he will continue efforts towards the release of all of the thousands of prisoners held by Israel. He added that there will not be peace with Israel until Israel withdraws from all of Yehuda and Shomron.

Abu Mazen welcomed the prisoners with open arms as he maximized the media exposure, viewed as the leader who managed to orchestrate the release of yet additional Arab terrorists.

Critics fear that the move compels Hamas to continue raising its price for the release of Gilad Shalit, also wishing to portray itself as possessing the negotiating ability to bring the prisoners back to Gaza.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in reference to this latest prisoner release insists that this in no way is connected to Gilad Shalit and government efforts to obtain his release continue. Unfortunately, many senior analysts commenting on the situation this week stated the chances of reaching a prisoner release deal for Shalit’s release at present are virtually non-existent.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)