Israel Releases 550 More Palestinian Prisoners to Complete Schalit Exchange
- Posted on December 18, 2011 at 6:29pm by
Christopher Santarelli
- Print »
- Email »
(The Blaze/AP) Israel released hundreds of Palestinian prisoners late Sunday, the second and final phase of a swap with Gaza Hamas militants that brought home an Israeli soldier after five years in captivity.
Under the Egypt-brokered deal, Israel agreed to exchange a total of 1,027 prisoners for Sgt. Gilad Schalit, who was captured by Gaza militants in June 2006. Schalit returned home in October when Israel freed the first batch of 477 prisoners. Sunday’s release of 550 prisoners completed the swap, the most lopsided in Israel’s history.
The release Sunday night was not infused with the same drama as the first phase, since the most significant players in the trade had already been freed.
The Oct. 18 return of Schalit, who appeared pale and thin but otherwise healthy, was the first public sighting of him since his capture, and the plight of the young man had captured Israel’s attention for years. Schalit has mostly stayed out of the public eye since returning home.
The prisoners freed in the first round included dozens of militants serving life sentences for involvement in bus bombings and other deadly attacks on Israeli civilians that killed hundreds. Their release set off celebrations in the Palestinian territories, particularly Hamas’ Gaza stronghold.
The release took place quietly under the cover of darkness, as most of the prisoners descended from buses and made their way into the West Bank and Gaza.
In Gaza, hundreds of well-wishers greeted the freed prisoners by waving Palestinian flags and shooting guns in the air. “I am so glad that I am back, this is a real victory,” said released prisoner Kamal Madheem, 40.
“We managed to get 20 percent of our prisoners released from Israeli jails in exchange for one soldier,” Hamas spokesman Abu Obeida said in Gaza. “We are going to continue our efforts to get all prisoners released,” he said.
In Ramallah, large crowds greeted the prisoners with cheers. Relatives hugged their loved ones and waved Palestinian flags. Some called for militants to abduct more Israelis.
Saida Suleiman was welcoming back her son who was jailed for 18 months for throwing firebombs at Israelis. “I am so happy, I don’t want more happiness than this,” she said.
Under the terms of the deal, Israel chose the prisoners to be freed Sunday. Prison officials said most were serving light sentences or near the end of their terms, and only 41 were returning to Gaza.
More than 500 were sent to the West Bank, which is ruled by Hamas’ rival, President Mahmoud Abbas, and most of them were believed to be linked to Abbas’ Fatah movement. Israel is interested in bolstering Abbas at a time when Islamic groups like Hamas are gaining in power throughout the Middle East. Hamas enjoyed a huge boost of popularity following the October release.
A few hours earlier, a large group of Palestinians threw rocks and firebombs at Israeli troops at the West Bank checkpoint near the city of Ramallah, where the prisoners were released. The military said one soldier was injured.
The Palestinians have been divided between two rival governments since Hamas expelled Abbas’ forces and seized control of Gaza in 2007. Abbas, who favors a negotiated peace settlement with Israel, has governed only in the West Bank since then.
“This phase of the swap is shallow, because most of those coming out had served short sentences,” said Issa Karake, the prisoners affairs minister in the West Bank government. “It did not live up to the expectations of the Palestinians.”
In Gaza, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said the movement welcomed the release of all prisoners, regardless of their political affiliation. “We are proud of this great achievement,” he said.
(AP) Palestinians celebrate the release of prisoners at the Rafah border crossing in southern Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2011.
Israeli-Palestinian peace talks have been frozen for three years, in part because of continued Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank and east Jerusalem. The Palestinians claim both territories, captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war, as parts of a future state.
On Sunday, Israel’s Housing Ministry published advertisements seeking contractors to build some 1,000 apartments in both areas. The apartments were approved long ago.
Popular Stories
Does Misstated Marathon Claim Prove Paul Ryan Is Dishonest? (POLL) 697 Comments
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 530 Comments
‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 356 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 355 Comments
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 347 Comments
Faith
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 347 Comments
Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 356 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
- President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 270 Comments
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 148 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 302 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 347 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (35)
elosogrande
Posted on December 19, 2011 at 12:39pmWouldn’t it be nice if our government put the same value on one American life, as the Israelis do on one Jew? That’s probably why Israel is so strong.
Report Post »sbenard
Posted on December 19, 2011 at 12:02pmI hate to say this, but when you deal with the devil, you end up in hell!
Report Post »Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on December 19, 2011 at 10:14amI hope they micro-chipped them at the vet.. GPS their assz for future reference..
Report Post »the point
Posted on December 19, 2011 at 9:22amThis only proves that one Jewish soldier is worth more than a thousand Palestinian soldiers. It also shows that Isreal thinks more of one of their on than than they do of thousands of theirs.
Report Post »bill999
Posted on December 19, 2011 at 8:05amIt takes 1027 Palestinians to equal 1 Israeli proving that Palestinians are essentially worthless
Report Post »old white guy
Posted on December 19, 2011 at 8:41amGod must have planted a suicide gene in the jews.
Report Post »swkimbl
Posted on December 19, 2011 at 7:03amThey should have sent them home in body bags, the Palestinians couldn’t hate them any more than they already do, and they wouldn’t have to worry about them attacking Israel.
Report Post »Wakeup Maggie
Posted on December 19, 2011 at 12:33amThey were probably just tired of feeding them and having them stink up their jails
Report Post »abbygirl1994
Posted on December 19, 2011 at 12:08amIt may be a unbalanced swap.. but it tells me that even one of Israel’s people is worth saving… Which is more than I can say for what this country does.. How many American’s are imprisoned in some rat hole and no one is doing anything to save them?? God help us!
Report Post »palerider54
Posted on December 18, 2011 at 11:28pmSTOOL, God has told me, in his Holy Word that he is going to punish idiots that blaspheme him and tease his followers. Just sayin.
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on December 18, 2011 at 9:53pmIt is written in the the koran that muslims will get great rewards in the afterlife for freeing muslim prisoners. And the Israelis know this. Yet Israel, withl under pressure of obama, will allow muslim terrorists to go free.
No Obama 2012.
Or face a world of darkness.
Report Post »ashestoashes
Posted on December 18, 2011 at 10:13pm550 Islamic prisoners for one Israeli…fair trade.. Who cares if the Muslims think that they will get some kind of reward in the afterllife if they free their own…they will not be going where they think they are.
Report Post »Robert-CA
Posted on December 18, 2011 at 11:50pmor to be accurate 1,027 to 1 Israeli .
Report Post »Secka
Posted on December 18, 2011 at 9:51pmSo I guess that means 1 Israeli man is worth more than 1,000 Palestinians combined! Way to go, showing the real worth of a single Palestinian!
Report Post »HorseCrazy
Posted on December 18, 2011 at 9:47pmthat is nice israel takes care of their warriors but when the heck is our government going to do something for bowe bergdahl? israel does all this for one man and we leave bowe there for the last 3 years. I pray everyday for his family and his strength. bring bowe home USA, what ever happened to no man left behind?
Report Post »momrules
Posted on December 18, 2011 at 10:16pmI am so glad to know that you pray for Bowe too. I have a sign on my truck that asks “Who is Bowe Bergdahl?” I can count on one hand the people who have asked me to explain. It is like America does not know or care.
I did see Col. Oliver North talking about Bowe though, that was good.
Bowe reportedly escaped recently and was on the run for three days before being recaptured.
I pray dailey for God to support and to save Bowe.
Report Post »Kiba
Posted on December 18, 2011 at 9:43pmWell thats how they do things, 1,000 palistinian prisoners for just one Isreali prisoner. And what is worse than that going on is how we still have to hear about how unfair Isreal is to these people. They rain-down 1,000 missles on Isreal and Isreal might launch one their way to protect theirselves and all we along with the rest of the world has to listen to every day is how unfair Isreal is to these people. I am almost to the point to where Im like ‘lets just get it on and get it over with’, call me crazy but incase you havent noticed thats where its going anyway. Is there really one single person out there that can say with any realistic honesty that within 10 years its not “going to be on” over there between Iran and whoever else and Isreal with their very few allies? Yet another reason to get Obumma the imposter out of there because it wouldnt surprise me one single bit if he took-sides with Iran! Mr. 57 states (of Islam that is!) Wouldnt surprise me one bit.
Report Post »ddg7
Posted on December 18, 2011 at 9:27pmPermit me to finish this sentence from the article, Sunday’s release of 550 prisoners completed the swap, the most lopsided in Israel’s history…..SO FAR!
Report Post »Justusforall
Posted on December 18, 2011 at 9:22pmhttp://www.ronpaul2012.com/2011/12/17/have-trouble-with-ron-pauls-foreign-policy/ If you LOVE Ron Paul but hate his foreign policy. Watch this video and you may change your mind. The troops give more money to Ron that ALL other candidates combined! Open your mind before it’s too late!
Report Post »ZomBrad
Posted on December 18, 2011 at 8:51pmHundreds of criminals for one innocent kid…..but Islam is the religion of peace….
Throwing rocks, and killing Jewish families in the night…..but Islam is the religion of peace….
Wanting an entire race exterminated from the face of the earth…..but don’t worry, Islam is the religion of peace….
Lopsided hostage trades, murder, and genocide…….peace on earth; good will towards men…
Merry Christmas Ahmed Brown!!!
Loo loo loo, loo-loo loo loo…LOO LOO LOO, loo-loo loo loo…..
Report Post »stool
Posted on December 18, 2011 at 8:23pmThe reason this happened is Shalit’s family put intense public pressure on the government, even camping in a tent for months outside the presidents home. Israel should have sent in a double agent in and assassinated the kid.
Report Post »4X4in
Posted on December 18, 2011 at 8:06pm550 to 1 hmmmm!
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on December 18, 2011 at 8:21pmSounds like a great deal,for the worshipers of a dead pedophile.
Report Post »SilentReader
Posted on December 18, 2011 at 8:01pmThis is absolute insanity! It is why we have a policy of never negotiating with terrorists. Until Obama that is. All of these terrorists will go back to what they were doing before. Killing and kidnapping Israelis for ransom or exchange.
Report Post »Jenny Lind
Posted on December 18, 2011 at 7:19pmThey have been shown mercy, If they do anything to anyone from here on out, may God grant the the mercy THEY show.
Report Post »blue_sky
Posted on December 18, 2011 at 7:09pm.
Great that Israel did not need to ask our permission.
Israel can fight and defeat Iran, but cannot touch United Nation. Imagine USA is bankrupt while UN is putting economic embargo on Israel? RON PAUL is the only man who can take us out of UN, restore sound money and prosperity. Strong fiscal USA is good for Americans and Israel.
Money bomb at RonPaul2012 is about $3,800,000.00
* Restore America Now *
.
Report Post »MidWestMom
Posted on December 18, 2011 at 7:06pm1027 for 1
Report Post »And the world is supposed to take them seriously when they say they want to negotiate a “fair” peace treaty with Israel? Uh huh. Sure
tzion
Posted on December 18, 2011 at 6:59pmThere’s only one good thing that can come of this: Hamas has an incentive to keep any soldiers kidnapped in the future alive for trading purposes. Not much of silver lining but the best I can muster.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on December 18, 2011 at 6:50pmJoy to the World: 550 more lose cannons on the lose. More potential suicide bombers. Israel better make sure that no more of their soldiers get captured. Interesting that the Muslims were using ransom and smoking pot back in the days of the Crusades. Amazing how things have stayed the same in that religious culture…same poverty..same intolerance..same lack of rights for women…
Report Post »copatriots
Posted on December 18, 2011 at 7:59pmDon’t you just feel there is something bigger in this? I don’t know what it is but……….God WILL be glorified through this exchange and it is so exciting to wait to see how it unfolds! His mercy surely endureth forever but at some point He will indeed say “Enough”.
Report Post »stool
Posted on December 18, 2011 at 8:26pmcopatriots, God has told me he wants you to send me $5,000. You will be blessed many times over for this act of kindness.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on December 18, 2011 at 6:44pmThis is the reason… that Countries use to Execute Political & Military Prisoners: if you do not, the other side grabs Hostages for a Trade!
Report Post »